New Delhi, Sept. 22 -- More than a decade after soaring onion prices contributed to the Congress party's loss in the Delhi assembly elections, the Centre is taking no chances this festival season.

With demand peaking ahead of Diwali and other regional festivities, the government has intensified market interventions, dispatching special "onion trains" to cities including Guwahati, Kolkata, and Chandigarh, two officials directly involved in the process told Mint.

The special trains, which can carry up to 1,700 tonnes each, supplement the traditional truck supply, typically limited to 25 tonnes per vehicle, allowing a much faster and larger distribution to high-demand regions.

One official said these trains are part of a broader strategy ...