The Haryana-Punjab interstate Shambhu border on National Highway-44 has been closed since February 10, 2024. On February 13, the farmers called for a 'Delhi March', however, the tight barricading and actions by the security forces led to clashes, prompting the indefinite closure of the Shambhu border. Even today i.e. on February 26, 2025, the Shambhu Border remains closed and hence, the connectivity remains affected between Punjab and other states. However, there are alternate but long Amritsa-Delhi routes. Therefore, if you are mulling top travel to Delhi by Amritsar via road, below are alternate routes-
Amritsar-Delhi Alternate Routes
True Scoop talked to a travel agent who informed that the best Amritsar-Delhi alternate route would be Rajpura to Zirakpur and then Zirakour to Ambala. Two tolls are present if you are taking this route and costing will also increase by Rs 700 to Rs 800. Earlier, Jalandhar to Delhi travel by Innova or similar SUVs cost Rs 12,000. Now, it takes a minimum of Rs 14,000.
On being asked how much time will it take for travellers to reach Delhi by alternate routes, the travel agent revealed that if there is a traffic jam as all traffic is diverted to that route (Zirakpur Road), then it will take at least 10 hours. Earlier, it used to take only 6 to 6.5 hours to reach Delhi from Jalandhar.
On being asked whether things can improve once the Katra-Delhi Highway gets completed, the agent revealed that the highway will now touch Shambhu and there is still a lot of time left in it. The alternate Zirakpur route is totally safe but issues of traffic jam is there.
Currently, bridge construction is going on the Zirakpur-Ambala Highway. Hence, roads have been decreased and therefore, the traffic issue often happens there.
The second route is from Rajpura. There is a road that turns towards Patiala from Rajpura, people can go to Delhi from villages. But, the roads on this route are not up to the mark.
- Zirakpur Route- Amritsar to Jalandhar, Jalandhar to Mohali, Mohali To Zirakpur, Zirakpur to Ambala, Ambala to New Delhi via Highway
- Rajpura Route- Amritsar to Rajpura via Jalandhar & Ludhiana, then 13 km from Rajpura where there are barricades near the bridge (Petrol Pump), a road turns right towards Patiala, then turn left 10 to 12 km via villages.
Punjab suffered almost Rs 1 lakh crore loss due to Shambhu Border blockade
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday met with industrialists from Jalandhar in Chandigarh to discuss several issues related to industry and trade. The biggest demand of the industrialists was to reopen the Shambhu border. Representatives of Jalandhar's business organizations told the Chief Minister that the Shambhu border has been blocked by farmer organizations due to their demands.
Narendra Singh Sagu, an official of the Chamber and head of the organization, said that Punjab has suffered a loss of about Rs 1 lakh crore due to the blockade of the Shambhu border.