CHANDIGARH: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP from Sangrur, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, has warned that he will lead a protest along with residents of Barnala if the newly launched Ferozepur-Delhi Vande Bharat Express is not given a halt at the Barnala railway station by December 1. The announcement comes amid growing resentment in Punjab’s Malwa region over the train’s route, which leaves out several key stations despite earlier assurances from the Centre.
The Vande Bharat Express, flagged off virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, was initially promoted as a service benefiting Punjab’s border and central districts. However, the train currently runs through Faridkot, Bathinda, Dhuri, and Patiala before entering Ambala in Haryana, leaving out Barnala, Moga, and Mansa—districts with significant passenger traffic toward Delhi.
Speaking to reporters, Meet Hayer said he had met the Union Railway Minister earlier and urged him to approve a halt at Barnala. “I told the minister that passengers from Barnala and nearby areas, including parts of Moga, Mansa, and Bathinda, rely on this line. The minister assured me that the proposal has already been cleared and that the train will soon stop at Barnala,” he said.
Despite the assurance, Hayer said no official order has been issued yet. “I have given the ministry time till December 1. If there’s no notification by then, I will sit on a protest at Barnala station with local residents,” he warned.
The AAP MP added that he plans to raise the matter during the upcoming Parliament session. “I will bring an adjournment motion in the House and also meet the Union Railway Minister again personally. This is not just a political demand—it’s a public issue that affects thousands of daily commuters,” he said.
Residents and traders in Barnala have echoed Hayer’s concern, saying the lack of a halt denies the region access to a faster and more comfortable connection to Delhi. Many pointed out that the Vande Bharat train was launched amid much fanfare in Punjab but has skipped key districts that contribute heavily to rail passenger traffic.
“If the government wanted to boost connectivity in Punjab, leaving out Barnala makes no sense,” said a local shopkeeper. “We were told the train would stop here, but it’s only passing through”.
Hayer said that while he welcomed the launch of the modern train, development must not be selective. “If the government can start Vande Bharat from Ferozepur, it should ensure that people in Barnala, who form the heart of Punjab’s Malwa region, also benefit from it,” he said , adding that if the halt is approved, he and residents will organize a warm welcome for the train at Barnala station.
The growing discontent in Barnala adds to the controversy already surrounding the train’s launch, as residents in Ferozepur also expressed anger after it was revealed that the train does not actually halt at the city’s main station despite being named the Ferozepur-Delhi Vande Bharat Express.
