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The Department has also requested Indian Railways to allow transportation of onion rakes from Nashik to multiple locations across the North-eastern region
The Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India announced that 1,600 MT (42 BCN wagons i.e. approximately 53 trucks) of onions procured by the National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India Ltd. (NCCF) under the price stabilisation fund is being shipped by rail by the Kanda fast train from Nashik to Delhi NCR. It is the first time that bulk transport of onions by rail rake has been adopted under price stabilisation intervention. The onion shipment is scheduled to arrive by 20th October 2024 and the stocks will be released in Delhi-NCR which will substantially increase the availability to consumers during this festive season.
Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, during a press briefing informed that railways as a mode of onion transportation are set to gain importance as more destinations are being added to bolster the pace of disposal. Shipments by rail rake to Lucknow and Varanasi will be scheduled in the next few days. The Department has also requested Indian Railways to allow transportation of onion rakes from Nashik to multiple locations across the North-eastern region which would include (i) NJP: New Jalpaiguri (Siliguri), (ii) DBRG- Dibrugarh, (iii) NTSK- New Tinsukia, and (iv) CGS: Changsari. This will ensure wider availability of onions in different regions of India ensuring its availability at a very reasonable price to consumers.
The government had procured 4.7 lakh tons of rabi onion for the price stabilisation buffer this year and started the release on 5th September 2024 through retail sales at Rs.35 per kg and also through bulk sales in major mandis across the country. To date, about 92,000 MT of onion in the buffer has been dispatched from Nashik and other source centres to consuming centres through trucks by road transport. As of date, NCCF has covered 77 destinations in 21 States and NAFED covered 43 destinations in 16 States in their onion disposal. The agencies have also partnered with retail chains such as SAFAL, Kendriya Bhandar and Reliance Retail for distribution of onions to retail consumers at Rs.35 per kg. In addition, 86,500 MT of onion has been allotted to 9 state governments/Cooperative Societies for retail distribution.