The much-awaited Amritsar-Delhi Vande Bharat Express' inauguration will take place on December 30, 2023, with Prime Minister Modi flagging off trains from Ayodhya. Amritsar-Delhi Vande Bharat Express inauguration day will let passengers travel from the high-speed train free of cost including breakfast on Saturday. On Thursday, True Scoop News broke the news regarding Jalandhar Cantt being chosen as a halt for Punjab's first Vande Bharat Express and now it has learned that the train will also be halting at Phagwara Railway Station, courtesy of Lovely Professional University (LPU).
Som Prakash, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry of India, MP from Hoshiarpur, took to his official social media handles and expressed his gratitude to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and PM Modi for inclusion of Phagwara as a halt for Amritsar-Delhi Vande Bharat Train. MP Som Prakash shared his letter sent to Union Railway Ministry and wrote, " (Translated version) On behalf of the people of Punjab, I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Honorable Prime Minister Shri @NarendraModi ji and Honorable Railway Minister Shri
@AshwiniVaishnaw ji for approving the request for running the New Delhi-Amritsar Vande Bharat train and stopping at Phagwara and Jalandhar. This train is starting on 30th December."
In his letter to the Central Government, Som Prakash outlined the presence of Lovely Professional University (LPU) on the Phagwara-Jalandhar Highway and how the inclusion of Phagwara will benefit the railways and even the people. Below is the excerpt from Som Prakash's letter-
"I am writing this letter to request your good self to consider stoppage of proposed New Delhi-Amritsar Vande Bharat Express at Phagwara railway station or Jalandhar Cantt. railway station.
Phagwara is equidistant from Jalandhar and Ludhiana and passengers of both these places can utilize the service of proposed Vande Bharat Express from Phagwara railway station. Phagwara, an Industrial town located on GT Road, is one of the most important centres of Industry, Trade and Education in Punjab. Two most prominent Universities of Punjab ie. Lovely Professional University and GNA University, where more than 35 thousand students from all over India and other countries study, are located near Phagwara. It will also be useful for passengers from Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana and some parts of Himachal Pradesh.
In view of the above, I request your good self to kindly consider the above request in larger public interest."
No charges to travel from Amritsar-Delhi Vande Bharat Express on opening day
It is pertinent to mention here that, passengers will not be charged to travel from Amritsar-Delhi Vande Bharat on the inauguration day. On the first day, passengers will have the facility of free travel on the fastest train on the Jalandhar-Delhi route. Reportedly, the inaugural tickets will be given to the passengers at the station itself. Passengers will get free tea along with breakfast on the train. Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will be specially present in the cultural program to be organized on the occasion of the inauguration of this train in Jalandhar.