21 wagons, 453.65 tonnes of onions: Why this special train has arrived in Delhi

A special train carrying a rather unusual cargo rolled into Delhi on Friday morning, drawing attention not for passengers, but for what was packed inside its 21 wagons.

The rake, carrying 453.65 tonnes of onions from Nashik in Maharashtra, was the first 'Kanda Express' to reach the national capital under the Centre's efforts to move large quantities of onions more efficiently by rail.

The consignment arrived as onion prices in Delhi continued to climb. Consumer Affairs Ministry data showed the retail price had reached Rs 62 per kg on Thursday, compared with Rs 33 per kg a year earlier.

So, why send an entire train loaded with onions to Delhi?

The answer lies in the Centre's buffer stock. The onions will be sold in Delhi-NCR at a subsidised Rs 35 per kg, with some stock also being sent to Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Jammu.

The Centre currently holds around 1.21 lakh tonnes of onions under the Price Stabilisation Fund.