People of Delhi to Get Relief from Onion Prices: Fifth Consignment of 720 Tonnes Arriving on November 21

The people of Delhi are going to get more relief from the increased prices of onion soon. The Centre has said that the fifth consignment of 720 tons of buffer onions will reach the national capital on November 21 as part of market intervention to control prices. This is a part of the government's initiative started last month, under which buffer onions will be transported from Maharashtra to Delhi for the first time through railways. So far, 4,010 tones of onions have been sent for retail sale at the rate of Rs 35 per kg.

According to a government statement, "Another consignment of 720 tones, which is the fifth consignment of this series, left from Nashik yesterday and is expected to reach Delhi by November 21." Out of the fourth consignment of 840 tons arriving on November 17, the government has allocated 500 tons to Mother Dairy, 190 tons to NCCF and 150 tons to NAFED for retail sale in Delhi-NCR. The government said that bulk arrivals have significantly impacted onion prices in Delhi at both wholesale and retail levels.

Apart from Delhi, similar initiatives are underway in other cities too. The government has recently sent 840 tones of onions each to Chennai and Guwahati. Another 840 tones are planned to be sent to Guwahati this week, while Lucknow will get the same quantity in 2-3 days. The Centre has decided to increase onion supply after supply shortages in some markets during the festive season and mandi closures. Cooperative body, NAFED has requested two additional rail racks for Delhi-NCR and one rack for Guwahati this week. Cooperative NCCF plans to deploy one more rack in the coming week, while road transport is being increased. The government will also release onions from Sonipat cold storage to supply Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi. Of the 4.7 lakh tone buffer stock created this year, the government has already supplied 1.50 lakh tone.