Onion prices in Delhi are likely to fall with the arrival of the Centre’s ‘Kanda Express’ in the national capital on Sunday, according to reports. According to reports, 1,600 tonnes of onions are being brought to Delhi from Nashik in Maharashtra in the Kanda Express. Through the ‘Kanda Express’, the government is trying to give relief to people from the high prices of onions ahead of Diwali. Onion prices in Delhi have reached Rs 75 per kg in recent weeks.
This train has 42 coaches and all are loaded with onions. This train will reach Kishanganj railway station in Delhi and from here it will be sent to the wholesale markets of the national capital. According to the report, this move will increase the daily supply of onions to the markets of Delhi and surrounding areas from 2,500 to 2,600 tonnes. This consignment of onions will be sold in retail at the rate of Rs 35 per kg at Safal, Kendriya Bhandar and other places.
The Centre had earlier said that “this is for the first time that bulk transportation of onions by rail rakes has been adopted under price stabilisation intervention. Once the onions arrive, the stock will be released in Delhi-NCR, thereby significantly increasing the availability for consumers during this Diwali season”. Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare said the importance of railways as a mode of onion transportation is going to increase as more destinations are being added to increase the speed of disposal. Shipments by rail rakes to Lucknow and Varanasi will be scheduled in the next few days. She said the supply situation is likely to improve in the coming days with increased arrivals from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, which will lead to a decline in tomato prices. The government had said that the average retail prices of onions in major states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Jharkhand and Telangana have been recorded lower in recent days as compared to the first week of September.