Punjab Bandh Disrupts Rail and Road Services; Over 220 Trains Affected Major Traffic Disruptions Across Punjab

Published: December 30, 2024

The continuous Punjab bandh has caused extensive disturbances affecting road and rail travel throughout the state. Officially, 221 trains have been impacted; 157 have been cancelled, 14 have been rescheduled, and others have been delayed or diverted. Aiming to urge the federal government to address the farmers’ needs, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, the Punjab Bandh, called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.

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Prominent Trains Cancelled

Important rail services including Shatabdi Express and the Vande Bharat Express are affected. Two trains on the New Delhi-Vaishno Devi route and one between New Delhi and Amb Andaura have been cancelled out of three Vande Bharat Express trains overall. Furthermore stopped are three Shatabdi Express trains running from New Delhi to Kalka, Amritsar, and Chandigarh. Cancelling or delays have also occurred on other upscale trains in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir.

किसान आंदोलन के कारण रेल प्रभावित@A1TVOfficial @1stIndiaNews @News18Rajasthan @DDNewsRajasthan @zeerajasthan_ @SachBedhadak pic.twitter.com/cPyukhZHzB

— North Western Railway (@NWRailways) December 29, 2024

Obstacles and Main Traffic Disturbances

Among the important roads and highways farmers have blocked are the Kharar-Morinda Highway, Ambala-Delhi Highway, Airport Road at IISER Chowk in Mohali, and Kurali Road Toll Plaza. Roadblocks have been seen at more than 200 sites in Punjab, therefore paralysing vehicle movement. Protests were documented in Amritsar close to the Golden Gate entrance point, and the main Bathinda Rampura Phul road was blocked as well.

Watch: During the Punjab Bandh, farmers protested at Amritsar’s Golden Gate, blocking city access. Police assisted stranded Russian tourists and devotees, arranging autos to reach Darbar Sahib pic.twitter.com/aOc6WPkxKz

— IANS (@ians_india) December 30, 2024

Guideline for Travellers

For travellers heading between Delhi and Chandigarh, Ambala police have advised alternate routes via Panchkula, Barwala, Mullana, Yamunanagar, Radaur, Ladwa, and NH-44 at Pipli. The Punjab Bandh excludes emergency services including medical requirements, airlines, and travel connected to weddings.

Farmers’ Demands and Hunger Strike Intensifies

Starting with farmers camping at the Punjab-Haryana border posts in Shambhu and Khanaeri since February 13, the bandh is part of a continuous protest. Sarwan Singh Pandher, a farmer leader, said the bandh seeks to compel the central government to satisfy their needs including:

Legal assurances for MSP
Debt cancellation
Farming pension
Not a change in the electricity rates.
Police case withdrawing
Justice for Lakhimpur Kheri violence victims in 2021

The hunger strike of 70-year-old farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal now lasted for 35 days. Dallewal has resisted medical treatment despite declining health, insisting that the government meet the needs of the farmers. The Supreme Court has instructed the Punjab government to convince Dallewal to stop his fast and seek medical attention, therefore enabling the state to ask the Centre for help should it be needed.

Supreme Court’s Intervention and Government’s Response

A “jatha” (group) of 101 farmers earlier tried to march to Delhi but was halted by security guards from Haryana. Emphasising the need for communication and medical treatment for Dallewal, the Supreme Court has given the Punjab government until December 31 to help settle the matter.

Widespread Impact Across Punjab

The Punjab Bandh has seriously affected businesses, markets and transit providers mostly closing across the state. While top officials closely monitor the matter, about 600 police officers have been assigned in areas like Mohali to preserve law and order.