ECONOMY
Government taps rail route to transport onions across India and check price rise
- IBJ Bureau
- Nov 01, 2024
The government has said that about 840 tonnes of buffer onion has arrived via rail in Delhi’s Kishanganj railway station as a part of its multi-pronged strategy to control prices.
This marks the second major rail delivery after 1,600 tonnes had reached Delhi on October 20 through Kanda Express, an official statement has said.
The shipment, procured by NAFED under the price stabilisation fund, will primarily be released through Azadpur Mandi, with a portion earmarked for retail sale at Rs 35 per kg.
Retail prices of onion are ruling at Rs 60-80 per kg in the national capital, depending upon the quality and locality.
In a first, the government has adopted rail transport for timely and cost-effective delivery of onions across regions.
NAFED had earlier transported 840 mt to Chennai on October 26, while another consignment of similar quantity had departed from Nashik for Guwahati late last month.
The government had built a buffer of 4.7 lakh tonnes during the Rabi season and began releasing onions from September 5 through retail and bulk channels.
“Over 1.40 lakh tonnes have been despatched from Nashik and other centres via road transport,” the statement has added.
The National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF) has reached 104 destinations across 22 States, while NAFED covers 52 locations in 16 States. The agencies have partnered with SAFAL, Kendriya Bhandar and Reliance Retail for Rs 35 per kg retail sales.
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