First Kanda Express to Deliver 440 Tons of Onions to Agartala Ahead of Festivals
The first Kanda Express is set to deliver 440 tons of onions to Agartala, enhancing supply before the festive season.
Agartala, October 16 (Daily Kiran) : The first ‘Kanda Express’ is expected to arrive in Agartala by October 18, carrying approximately 440 metric tons of onions. This initiative aims to strengthen onion availability in the northeastern region, as stated in an official announcement released on Friday.
To ensure consumers have access to affordable onions ahead of the festive season, the Department of Consumer Affairs is expanding the distribution of buffer stock onions under the Price Stabilization Fund (PSF). This effort is anticipated to bolster market supply in seven out of eight districts of Tripura, including Dhalai, South Tripura, Khowai, Unakoti, West Tripura, Gomati, and Sipahijala.
According to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, a total of 1,513.46 metric tons of buffer onions have already been transported to the northeastern region via two Kanda Express rail rakes and 44 trucks. Key areas in Assam, Tripura, and Nagaland, such as Kamrup, Guwahati, Gomati, Dimapur, Sipahijala, Kohima, Niuland, and Chumoukedima, have received these supplies.
In Assam, retail onion prices have shown a downward trend in recent weeks. Reports indicate a price drop ranging from 1 to 8 rupees per kilogram across approximately 12 centers in the state. The gap between retail onion prices in Assam and the all-India average has also significantly narrowed over the past two years. Two years ago, the average retail price of onions in Assam was 61.96 rupees per kilogram, compared to the all-India average of 54.13 rupees, creating a difference of 7.83 rupees per kilogram. Currently, the average retail price in Assam stands at 54.30 rupees per kilogram, while the all-India average is at 53.07 rupees, reducing the difference to just 1.23 rupees per kilogram.
The statement emphasized that expanding distribution through both rail and road aims to increase the accessibility of buffer stock and strengthen market supply in key consumer centers across the region. Meanwhile, with the new Kharif crop arriving, onion prices in major markets nationwide have softened. The all-India average market price dropped from around 3,600 rupees per quintal in September to approximately 3,300 rupees per quintal in October.
