Kanda Express to deliver govt buffer onions to Kolkata ahead of Durga Puja
Synopsis
With the festive season around the corner and onion prices under pressure, the Centre is deploying a dedicated freight train — the Kanda Express — to deliver PSF buffer stock directly to Kolkata. Over 1,400 MT have already been distributed at ₹35/kg, and prices have eased in 17 states. The rail route is the government's bet on faster, larger-volume delivery before Durga Puja demand peaks.
Key Takeaways
The Kanda Express carrying onions from the PSF buffer stock is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata on Thursday, 25 September 2026 .
Nearly 1,400 MT of onions have already been distributed in West Bengal at ₹35 per kg via NAFED and NCCF mobile vans.
Retail sales are active at more than 25 locations in Kolkata, including Koley Market and Shyam Bazar Market .
Buffer stock onions have reached over 100 cities nationwide; prices have stabilised or declined in 17 states/UTs .
The government is exploring distribution through Sufal Bangla outlets to widen consumer access in West Bengal.
The Kanda Express, a dedicated freight train carrying onions from the Centre's Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) buffer stock, is scheduled to reach Kolkata on Thursday, 25 September 2026, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. The move is part of a calibrated strategy to ease seasonal price pressures in West Bengal ahead of the festive season.
What Has Been Distributed So Far
Nearly 1,400 metric tonnes (MT) of onions have already reached West Bengal through mobile vans operated by NAFED and NCCF, primarily via road transport, at a subsidised price of ₹35 per kg. The targeted disposal of PSF buffer stock commenced on 24 August, with supplies progressively dispatched to different parts of the country based on local market requirements.
Retail sales are currently active at more than 25 locations across Kolkata, including major markets such as Koley Market, Mechua Mandi, Maniktala Market, Rampuria Market, and Shyam Bazar Market.
How the Rail Route Changes the Equation
The Kanda Express represents a shift to a hybrid rail-and-road transportation network, which officials say will allow faster movement of larger quantities compared to road-only logistics. According to the ministry statement, the train's arrival is 'expected to facilitate faster movement of larger quantities of onions and further strengthen availability in Kolkata and adjoining districts, particularly ahead of the festive season.'
This is the latest in a series of rail-based onion dispatches the Centre has used in recent years to stabilise prices in key consumption centres during high-demand periods such as Durga Puja and Diwali.
Wider National Picture
Onions from the PSF buffer stock have now reached more than 100 cities across India. Retail onion prices have stabilised or declined in 17 states and Union Territories, according to the ministry, signalling that the intervention is improving market availability. States where prices have eased over the past week include Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar.
Expanding Retail Reach in West Bengal
The government is also reportedly exploring the possibility of retailing buffer stock onions through Sufal Bangla, the state government's network of subsidised food outlets. If operationalised, this channel would meaningfully expand consumer access points and broaden the reach of the price-moderation effort in West Bengal.
With the festive calendar intensifying demand for vegetables in the coming weeks, the Centre's ability to sustain buffer releases at pace will be closely watched by both traders and consumers.
Point of View
Subsidised pricing, dedicated freight trains — is well-rehearsed, but its durability depends on how long buffer stocks hold against festive-season demand. Onion price spikes have historically carried political consequences in India, and the timing ahead of Durga Puja is clearly not incidental. The more telling metric will be whether prices hold after the initial buffer releases taper off; 17 states showing easing is encouraging, but Maharashtra and Karnataka — the two largest producing states — are absent from that list, which bears watching.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kanda Express and why is it going to Kolkata?
The Kanda Express is a dedicated freight train used by the government to transport onions from the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) buffer stock to key demand centres. It is being dispatched to Kolkata ahead of the festive season to boost market availability and moderate seasonal price rises.
At what price are government buffer stock onions being sold in West Bengal?
Buffer stock onions are being retailed at ₹35 per kg through NAFED and NCCF mobile vans across more than 25 locations in Kolkata, including major markets such as Koley Market and Maniktala Market.
How much onion has already been distributed in West Bengal?
Nearly 1,400 metric tonnes of onions have already been distributed in West Bengal through road transport, with additional quantities expected via the Kanda Express rail route.
In how many cities has the government distributed buffer stock onions?
Onions from the PSF buffer stock have been supplied to more than 100 cities across India, with retail prices stable or declining in 17 states and Union Territories as a result.
What is Sufal Bangla and how is it connected to this intervention?
Sufal Bangla is a West Bengal government network of subsidised food retail outlets. The Centre is reportedly exploring using this network to sell PSF buffer stock onions, which would expand consumer access points and widen the reach of the price-stabilisation effort in the state.
