# Government's discounted onion drive crosses 4,000 tonnes in 17 cities as Kanda Express turns towards Guwahati

> Ten days after launching its discounted onion sale, the government has sold nearly 4,000 tonnes of buffer onion across 17 cities, with the Kanda Express now preparing to send its third consignment to Guwahati.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Business · **Published:** 2026-09-06 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/business/17-shaharon-men-bika-4000-tana-baphara-pyaja-aba-guwahati-pahunchegi-kanda-express-ki-tisari-khepa-28536 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Onion Prices, Buffer Stock, NCCF, NAFED, Kanda Express, Consumer Affairs Ministry, Guwahati, Subsidised Onion

Ten days into the government's discounted onion sale drive to rein in rising prices, close to 4,000 tonnes of buffer onion have already been sold across 17 cities in the country. Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare shared the update on Sunday, adding that the central government is holding a total buffer stock of 1.21 lakh tonnes of onion for 2026 through the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), the two agencies tasked with running the price-stabilisation exercise.

## Kanda Express moves from Delhi and Chennai towards Guwahati next
The exercise is aimed at moving onion stocked in producing states to bulk consumption centres where prices tend to be more sensitive to short supply. NAFED and NCCF are using a dedicated rail rake called the Kanda Express along with trucks to ferry the stock quickly from warehouses to markets. In select price-sensitive cities, onion is being sold directly to consumers at a subsidised rate of Rs 35 per kilogram. Khare said nearly 4,000 tonnes of buffer onion has been sold in 17 cities so far. Consignments carried by the Kanda Express have already reached Delhi and Chennai, and a third consignment is currently being loaded, which will be dispatched to Guwahati in the coming days.

## How much relief have prices actually seen
Khare said the distribution of buffer onion has brought consumers some relief and that prices have eased slightly as a result. She clarified that the size and quality of onion released from the government's buffer stock is on par with what private traders are selling in the open market, meaning consumers are not compromising on quality by opting for the subsidised stock. She also explained that the rabi onion crop, which is typically stored through the year for sale in the later months, suffered some damage during harvesting this time because of unseasonal rain, which is part of why prices had climbed in the first place. According to data from the Department of Consumer Affairs, the average retail price of onion across the country stood at Rs 50.79 per kilogram, compared with Rs 48.50 per kilogram on August 28, when the subsidised sale scheme was first launched.

## NCCF alone has sold 1,500 tonnes
NCCF Managing Director Anees Joseph Chandra said the agency alone has sold 1,500 tonnes of buffer onion so far. "So far we have sold 1,500 tonnes of buffer onion in various cities across the country," she said. She added that NCCF's focus remains squarely on retail sales, with onion being priced at Rs 35 per kilogram for ordinary buyers rather than bulk traders. The overall push is being seen as an attempt to keep a lid on onion prices ahead of the festive season, so that the humble kitchen staple does not upset household budgets in cities across the country.

## What this means for you
**Onion buyers get a modest relief option, but the effect is still limited.**

- **Across India:** If you live in one of the 17 cities where the subsidised sale is running, you can buy onion at Rs 35 per kilogram even as the average market price has climbed to Rs 50.79 per kilogram. Since sale points are limited in number and stock, not everyone will find it easy to access this discount immediately.
- **In Guwahati:** The Kanda Express's third consignment is set to reach Guwahati in the coming days, meaning consumers there should soon have access to the subsidised stock. Once it arrives, local prices are expected to ease a little as supply improves.
- **No quality trade-off:** The government says the buffer onion matches the size and quality of what private traders sell, so shoppers picking the cheaper option do not need to worry about getting an inferior product.
- **Relief timed before festivals:** The scheme is being run ahead of the festive season specifically to prevent kitchen budgets from being disrupted, so households that use onion heavily could see the benefit most over the next few weeks.
- **Inflation isn't fully tamed yet:** Data shows the average retail price was Rs 48.50 per kilogram when the scheme began on August 28 and has since risen to Rs 50.79 per kilogram, so open-market prices haven't come down overall, making a trip to a subsidised counter worthwhile for now.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. How much onion has the government sold so far?
The government sold nearly 4,000 tonnes of buffer onion across 17 cities in the first 10 days of the scheme.

### 2. At what rate is onion being sold?
In select price-sensitive cities, onion is being sold at a subsidised rate of Rs 35 per kilogram.

### 3. Which cities has the Kanda Express reached so far?
The Kanda Express has already delivered onion to Delhi and Chennai, and a third consignment will soon be sent to Guwahati.

### 4. How large is the government's total buffer stock?
The central government holds a total buffer stock of 1.21 lakh tonnes of onion for 2026 through NCCF and NAFED.

### 5. How much has NCCF sold on its own?
According to NCCF Managing Director Anees Joseph Chandra, NCCF alone has sold 1,500 tonnes of buffer onion so far.

### 6. Why did onion prices rise in the first place?
The rabi onion crop suffered some damage during harvesting because of unseasonal rain, which affected supply.

### 7. What is the current average retail price of onion in the country?
According to the Department of Consumer Affairs, the average retail price of onion in the country is Rs 50.79 per kilogram.

### 8. When did the subsidised sale scheme begin?
The scheme began on August 28, when the average retail price was Rs 48.50 per kilogram.

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