6 days ago
Onion Express Delayed 42 Hours, Leaves Nashik With Shortfall
A special train was supposed to carry onions from Nashik district to Delhi.
It was meant to help keep onion prices affordable.
The train was planned to carry 840 tonnes, but only 500 tonnes were loaded.
Workers took a long time to grade, pack and load the onions.
This kept the train at the station for about 42 hours, according to the report.
A political party leader stopped the train because he said some onions were rotten or poor quality.
Officials and protesters argued before the protesters were removed from the tracks.
The train then left for Delhi, where it was expected to arrive in about 22 to 24 hours.
The Onion Express left Lasalgaon for Delhi at 3:10 p.m. Wednesday after a reported delay of nearly 42 hours.
Only 500 of the planned 840 metric tonnes of onions were loaded, creating a 340-tonne shortfall.
Slow grading, packing and loading delayed the 21-coach train at Lasalgaon station.
A Prahar Janshakti Party leader protested, alleging that poor-quality and rotten onions were being shipped.
The train was dispatched under the Price Stabilisation Fund initiative to help control rising onion prices in Delhi.
- Who
- The National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation, the Central Warehousing Corporation, railway officials and a Prahar Janshakti Party protester were involved.
- What
- An Onion Express carrying onions to Delhi was delayed and departed with 340 tonnes less than planned.
- Where
- The train traveled from Lasalgaon railway station in Nashik district to Adarsh Nagar in Delhi.
- When
- It departed at 3:10 p.m. on Wednesday after arriving at Lasalgaon late Monday night.
- Why
- It was intended to supply onions to Delhi and help control rising retail prices.
Quality and accountability concerns
Supply and operational response
Quality of onions
Quality and accountability concerns
Ganesh Nimbalkar alleged that poor-quality and rotten onions were being sent to Delhi and demanded an inspection before departure.
Supply and operational response
Officials from the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation and Central Warehousing Corporation were involved in the dispatch, and the train ultimately left after the protesters were removed from the tracks; the article does not report the result of a quality inspection.
Quantity and logistics
Quality and accountability concerns
The 340-tonne shortfall and the use of a 21-coach train for the reduced load raised questions about planning, coordination and potentially higher transportation costs per tonne.
Supply and operational response
Authorities dispatched 500 tonnes of onions from buffer stocks despite the loading difficulties, aiming to support Delhi consumers amid rising prices.
Delay costs
Quality and accountability concerns
The extended stoppage could lead to additional railway detention charges and delayed delivery of the intended supply.
Supply and operational response
The station master said the train was expected to take approximately 22 to 24 hours to reach Delhi after departure.
Key facts
- Planned quantity
- 840 metric tonnes
- Dispatched quantity
- 500 metric tonnes
- Shortfall
- 340 metric tonnes
- Train
- A 21-coach goods train
- Departure
- 3:10 p.m. Wednesday
- Expected travel time
- Approximately 22 to 24 hours to Adarsh Nagar, Delhi
- Procurement price
- ₹1,235 to ₹2,345 per quintal
- Government program
- Price Stabilisation Fund initiative
Sources
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