Agartala: To boost onion availability and stabilise prices during the festive season, the Department of Consumer Affairs has extended its rail distribution network to Tripura, launching the Kanda Express service to Agartala with around 440 metric tonnes of buffer onions, said state civil supplies minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Saturday.The consignment, funded through the Centre’s Price Stabilisation Fund, is expected to reach Agartala on Sunday. The move aims to strengthen supply chains, raise market stocks and ensure onions are sold at reasonable rates during peak demand.After routing buffer onions to Assam via the dedicated rail service, the Centre has now added Tripura as another rail-linked destination, creating an additional channel for essential food supplies. Seven districts—Dhalai, South Tripura, Khowai, Unakoti, West Tripura, Gomati and Sepahijala—are expected to benefit through a rail-and-road distribution plan.More than 2,800 MT was sent to the northeast through two rakes and 44 trucks, officials said. The average nationwide mandi price fell from about Rs 3,600 per quintal in Sept to Rs 3,300 in Oct, reflecting lower wholesale prices.
