The Government has initiated a hybrid transportation model to distribute onion buffer stocks from Nashik to major consumption centres, aiming to ensure adequate availability and moderate seasonal price pressures. The initiative includes two Kanda Express consignments and 1,000 MT of onions being transported by road.
The Government of India has commenced a calibrated release of onion buffer stocks through a hybrid transportation model that combines railway rakes (Kanda Express) and road transport. This initiative is aimed at ensuring the availability of onions and moderating seasonal price pressures.
Two Kanda Express consignments have been dispatched from Nashik, with the first rake carrying 140 MT that was distributed across Varanasi, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Amritsar, and the Delhi-NCR region on 28 August 2026. The remaining quantity of this rake was also distributed in these regions.
The second rake, carrying 840 MT of onions, reached Chennai on 31 August 2026. The State Government of Tamil Nadu plans to distribute these onions through the Public Distribution System (PDS) against the requirement of 1 kg per card across various districts. The proposed district-wise clustering includes:
District Combination
Chennai PDS 1 + Chennai PDS 2
Tiruvallur + Kancheepuram+ Chengalpattu + Vellore + Ranipet + Tirupattur
Tiruvannamalai + Villupuram +Kallakurichi
Coimbatore + Nilgiris
Salem + Namakkal + Dharmapuri + Krishnagiri
Cuddalore + Mayiladuthurai
Nagapattinam + Tiruvarur
Ariyalur+ Perambalur
Thanjavur + Pudukkottai
Theni + Virudhunagar
Sivagangai + Ramanatnapuram
Tirunelveli + Tenkasi
Tuticorin + Kanyakumari
Simultaneously, around 1,000 MT of onions are being transported by road to major consumption centres based on prevailing market conditions and price trends.
Retail intervention efforts have expanded significantly across 19 cities, including Jaipur, Jammu, Dehradun, Shimla, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Guwahati, Lucknow, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Madurai, Thrissur and Kochi. The retail initiative has been launched in Lucknow by Shri B.L. Verma, Minister of State for M/o Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
Retail onions are available at Rs. 35 per kg through NCCF, NAFED, Kendriya Bhandar outlets, and mobile vans, ensuring affordable availability for consumers.
Source:
Press Information Bureau
