Special Kanda Express: In order to control the rising prices of onion during this festive season and to maintain the availability of onion in the market, the Consumer Ministry has decided to run Kanda Express for cities with high demand for onion.
Three rakes of Kanda Express train will run: The Consumer Ministry is running a total of three rake goods trains to send onions from Maharashtra to other parts of the country. Onion is called Kanda in Marathi, hence these goods trains have also been named Kanda Express.
Kanda Express will run for Delhi, Lucknow and Guwahati: Consumer Ministry Secretary Nidhi Khare told ABP News that the first Kanda Express will reach Delhi on October 20, which will supply onions to the entire NCR. The second Kanda Express train will run to Guwahati, which will make it possible to supply onions to the entire North East. The third Kanda Express will reach Lucknow and Banaras through which onions will be supplied to parts of UP and Bihar. These trains will be of one service only.
One goods train rake will carry 1600 metric tons of onion: Each Kanda Express train will have 53 trucks of onion which will be equivalent to 1600 metric tonnes. According to the Consumer Ministry, the fare for a train is Rs 34 lakh, whereas if sent by trucks, the fare will be Rs 75 lakh.
Onion prices will decrease before Diwali: At present, onion is being sold between Rs 55 to Rs 80 in the retail market, while the Consumer Ministry is providing onion at Rs 35 through NCCF and NAFED. It is expected that before Diwali, the price of onion will start selling below Rs 35 in the retail market.
Black marketeers hurt: The Consumer Ministry says that the reason behind the increase in onion prices are the hoarding traders who deliberately do not bring onions in the market. But with the arrival of government onions in the market, the prices of their onions will also fall.