CHANDIGARH, Dec. 17 — Responding to sustained demands from Punjab’s political leadership, the Centre has sanctioned a stoppage of the Ferozepur–Delhi Vande Bharat Express at Barnala railway station.
Railway Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu said the decision followed repeated representations from MPs and former legislators of the region.
“There was continuous follow-up on this issue,” Bittu said. “MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, MP Rajinder Gupta and former MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon had all requested the halt at Barnala.”
The decision comes weeks after Meet Hayer had warned of a protest at the station if the high-speed train did not stop there. He said Barnala’s geographical position justified the demand.
“Barnala is centrally located in Malwa,” Hayer said. “I took this up in Parliament on three occasions. I am thankful that the Union government has approved the halt.”
Bittu said the new stop would reduce travel inconvenience for passengers from multiple districts.
“This halt will be useful for people from Barnala as well as Malerkotla, Sangrur and Mansa,” he said. “I was repeatedly urged by party members to resolve the issue before visiting Punjab.”
At present, the Vande Bharat Express on the Ferozepur–Delhi route stops at Faridkot, Bathinda, Dhuri, Patiala, Ambala Cantonment, Kurukshetra and Panipat.
Railway officials said the addition of Barnala is expected to improve access for passengers from the interior Malwa region traveling to Delhi and other major cities.
