Onion prices in Delhi have jumped sharply over the past year, prompting the Centre to step up supplies through a dedicated rail service carrying more than
450 tonnes of onions from Maharashtra to the national capital. The first ‘Kanda Express’ reached Delhi on Friday with 453.65 tonnes of onions loaded in 21 wagons. The move is aimed at increasing availability in Delhi-NCR and bringing down retail prices, which have risen significantly in recent weeks. Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare said the onions brought from Nashik will be sold in Delhi-NCR at a subsidised price of Rs 35 per kg. Part of the stock will also be supplied to nearby cities, including Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Jammu. Delhi Onion Prices Rise 88% According to Consumer Affairs Ministry data, the average retail price of onions in Delhi reached Rs 62 per kg on Thursday, compared with Rs 33 per kg during the same period last year. This marks an increase of around 88 per cent. The all-India average retail price was Rs 46.58 per kg, while the average wholesale price stood at Rs 38.29 per kg. The government expects the release of buffer stock to start having an impact on retail prices in Delhi within a week.
Centre Has 1.21 Lakh Tonnes in Buffer Stock
The Centre currently has around 1.21 lakh tonnes of onions stored as buffer stock under the Price Stabilisation Fund. The stock is being released to increase market supply and prevent further price escalation.
Khare said onion availability in the country remains comfortable and is sufficient to meet domestic demand in the coming months.
Onion production for 2025-26 is estimated at 307.37 lakh tonnes, which is broadly similar to the 307.67 lakh tonnes produced in the previous year.
More Kanda Express Trains Planned
The government is also expanding the use of railways to transport large quantities of onions more efficiently.
After the Delhi-bound rake, a Kanda Express carrying onions to Chennai is scheduled to be loaded on Friday. Further rakes will be sent to Madurai, Ernakulam and Guwahati.
The initiative was launched in 2024-25 to improve the movement of onion buffer stocks across the country. During its first year, 14 railway rakes transported nearly 12,000 tonnes of onions to five cities.
The operation was expanded considerably in 2025-26, when 86 rakes carried around 88,000 tonnes of onions to 16 cities across the country.
The Centre's latest move comes as consumers in Delhi continue to face higher onion prices, with the government hoping that increased supplies will bring some relief in the coming days.
