Gujarat onions to reach Bangladesh via train

RAJKOT: Onions from Rajkot’s Dhoraji town are hurtling down top speed to Bangladesh’s Darshana station. Western Railways, for the first time, is transporting goods to Bangladesh. A goods train carrying 2,440 tonnes stock left Dhoraji 2,427km on Tuesday to the destination 2,427km away Till now, onion traders were exporting to Bangladesh in trucks through Malda of West Bengal.
Mahesh Nathvani an onion trader in Dhoraji said, “By truck it took us around eight days, while in train it will reach in 4 to 5 days. As it is a perishable item, railways has promised us to provide rakes as per our need.” He further said that as onion loses weight with time, the sooner it reaches the market, the better prices it will fetch for traders. Indian farmers cultivate yellow onion which is acidic and tear-inducing which is in high demand in Bangladesh.
Shabbir Tumbi, another trader said, “This is the end of onion season, but after Diwali the new season will start. If we get regular rakes, it will boost our business.”