Kanda Express Arrives In Delhi With Onions To Stabilize Market Prices
The Indian Railways Kanda Express has successfully reached Delhi carrying essential onion supplies to help control rising kitchen budgets. The special freight service is playing a major role in bringing relief to households across the National Capital Region by transporting food commodities swiftly from production hubs to major consumption centres.
The Indian Railways Kanda Express successfully arrived at the Adarsh Nagar Railway Station in Delhi, carrying approximately 453.65 tonnes of onions across 21 wagons sourced from Nashik, Maharashtra. While the train was originally scheduled to arrive on Wednesday, it faced delays due to protests by vested interest groups in Nashik, which were later resolved by local administration, allowing for transport.
Subsidized Pricing and Distribution Plan
Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare confirmed that the onions, drawn from the government’s buffer stock, will be sold at a subsidized retail rate of ₹35 per kg across Delhi-NCR. Beyond the capital, supplies are also designated for distribution in Chandigarh, Ludhiana, and Jammu. Retail prices in Delhi had climbed to ₹62 per kg as of August 27, 2026, marking an 88% increase from the ₹33 per kg recorded one year prior.
The initiative forms part of a broader government strategy to stabilize national prices, which currently see an all-India retail average of ₹46.58 per kg and wholesale rates of ₹38.29 per kg. The Centre manages an onion buffer stock of approximately 1.21 lakh tonnes under the Price Stabilisation Fund, with a procurement target of 2 lakh tonnes set for the 2026-27 rabi season. While officials aim to see retail prices decline within a week, they maintain that overall domestic availability remains robust, supported by a 2025-26 production estimate of 307.37 lakh tonnes.
Growth of the Kanda Express Initiative
The Kanda Express program has grown significantly since its inception in 2024-25, when 14 rakes transported 12,000 tonnes of onions. By 2025-26, the operation expanded to 86 rakes carrying roughly 88,000 tonnes to 16 major cities. Agencies including the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED), the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India Limited (NCCF), Kendriya Bhandar, and Mother Dairy’s Safal stores are facilitating the retail distribution, while the Central Warehousing Corporation serves as the designated storage agency.