The long-awaited Amritsar-Delhi express is likely to start operating from December 30-31. The details of the route and stoppages are expected to be revealed over the upcoming 2-3 days. The inclusion of Jalandhar in the route has not been confirmed however. Sources say that the DRM (Division Railway Manager) office have sent a proposal that includes Jalandhar in the route to the Railway Ministry although its inclusion in the route remains doubtful.
Currently, the proposed route approved by the Railway Ministry has stoppages in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Sahnewal, Ambala and New-Delhi, but not in Jalandhar or Jalandhar Cantt. Chances for it to be included are significant, although it has not been conclusively determined. The final details of the route are expected to be unveiled somewhere in the next 2-3 days.
The Vande Bharat Express is a medium-distance train service operated by Indian Railways. It connects cities within 10 hours of each other with minimal stoppages in between, similar to the Shatabdi Express. The New-Delhi to Katra Vande Bharat express has stoppages in Ludhiana and Ambala but interestingly, not in Jalandhar. This has been disappointing for the Jalandhar citizens looking to travel to Katra or make pilgrimage to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi as they have to make special arrangements for doing so. The VB provides much needed relief for Ludhiana but not Jalandhar, which has also received ire from Jalandhar citizens. Currently, train travelers from Jalandhar looking for similar services have to travel in the Shatabdi Express, which gets too crowded, causing problems to the travelers.
Jalandhar’s exclusion from the route is shrouded in controversy and disdain by the locals due to several factors. Jalandhar is one of the largest and most prominent cities of Punjab. Boasting a powerful political influence is one of the reaons why Jalandhar's exclusion has been questioned. Several well-known and influential Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs are linked to the city. For example, Ashok Mittal, the chancellor of the reputed Lovely Professional University is a Member Parliament in the Rajya Sabha. Other notable names include Lok Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Rinku, Sikh activist and MP Rajya Sabha Baba Seechewal; and former cricketer and Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh. Lok Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Rinku has also been very vocal about adding Jalandhar to the route in the past.
Jalandhar is also a prominent sports hub. Most notably, the bats used by India’s Cricket team are manufactured in Jalandhar. It is also a big educational hub with notable universities such as the Lovely Professional University and the Doaba College, where the Union and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur received his education from. Hence, its exclusion from the route is a curious oversight to say the least.
The details of the route are yet to be formally announced although they are expected to be finalized and revealed in 2-3 days. The Jalandhar citizens have been inconvenienced due to this for a very long time. Its exclusion has been a controversial decision as well due to the inclusion of Ludhiana in the route, which is very close to Jalandhar. The proposal to include a Jalandhar stoppage has been made by concerned Railway officials. Whether the higher authorities of the Railway Ministry will accept the proposal, or whether the political influence from notable Jalandhar MPs will bear any merit remains to be seen.
The Amritsar-Delhi Vande Bharat express is likely to start from December 30-31.