The Ministry of Food Processing Industries dispatched a fleet of trucks, popularly called the ‘Kanda Express’, from the onion storage hub in Nashik to the national capital on Wednesday. The convoy carried roughly 453 tonnes of fresh onions, a volume sufficient to meet the daily consumption of millions of households in the Delhi‑NCR region. Upon arrival at the Delhi wholesale market, the onions were placed under a special price regime, allowing retailers to sell them at a capped Rs 35 per kilogram, well below the market rate that had hovered around Rs 70‑80 per kg in recent weeks.
The move comes amid a prolonged period of price volatility for onions, a staple vegetable in Indian kitchens. Earlier this month, wholesale onion prices surged to a six‑year high, prompting widespread public discontent and political debate. The government, citing concerns over inflation and food security, has been procuring onions from surplus states and releasing them into deficit markets to stabilise prices. The Nashik stock, which had been stored under controlled conditions, represents one of the largest single‑batch releases in recent times.
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In addition to Delhi, a portion of the consignment is slated for distribution to nearby cities such as Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Jammu, where onion prices have also risen sharply. The subsidised rate is being funded through a combination of central subsidies and state‑level market intervention funds, ensuring that the cost to consumers does not translate into a loss for traders. Market officials expect the influx to ease immediate price pressures while longer‑term supply‑chain adjustments are pursued.
