alandhar Lok Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Rinku has formally asked the Railway Minister for a halt at Jalandhar in the New Delhi-Katra route of the Vande Bharat Express. In a letter addressed to the Railway Minister Ashwini Waishnaw, MP Rinku said that the train has a halt in Ludhiana and Ambala but not in Jalandhar. Stating Jalandhar to be a bustling city in Punjab, thousands of passengers travel to and from Jalandhar daily. He claimed that the stoppage at the Jalandhar station would help the northern railways generate nearly 3 times the current revenue.
This follows the news that the Vande Bharat Express will be travelling a new route from Amritsar to Delhi, which also did not involve Jalandhar as a stoppage. The train would be stopping at Ludhiana, Ambala, and Sahnewal but not at Jalandhar. Not stopping at Jalandhar has been a constant source of disappointment for Jalandhar Citizens looking to pay homage to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi in Katra. They have to rely on other indirect modes of transport such as buses as no direct train goes from Jalandhar to Katra.
The Amritsar to Delhi-Vande Bharat express will likely start from December 30-31. The chance of inclusion of Jalandhar to the route have increase, which is expected to be finalized over the next 2-3 days.