What happened (calibrated onion buffer stock release and market intervention)
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution started a calibrated release of onion buffer stocks to ensure adequate availability and moderate seasonal price pressures. The Government used a hybrid transportation model: railway rakes (known as “Kanda Express”) plus road transport to major consumption centres.
Onion disposal under the Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) buffer began on 24 August 2026 through NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation) and NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation).
Railway-linked movement (“Kanda Express”) dispatched from Nashik included two consignments:
• First Kanda Express consignment to Delhi
A Kanda Express rake carrying 450 MT of onions was dispatched from Nashik and reached Delhi in the late hours of 27 August 2026. From the 450 MT consignment, 140 MT was distributed across Varanasi, Lucknow, Chandigarh, and Amritsar. The remaining quantity was distributed across the Delhi–NCR region.
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