Mata Vaishno Devi Vande Bharat Express resumption hits roadblock in Punjab due to farmers’ stir

The resumption of the Vande Bharat train service from Delhi to Katra, home to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, after a gap of almost six months, had to be cancelled on the first day because of the agitation in Punjab over the farm reform laws.

The agitation by farmers in Punjab has disrupted the running of trains since September 25 with most of them being cancelled and some being short terminated at Ambala cantonment.

Apart from the Mata Vaishno Devi Vande Baharat Express, the Northern Railways also had to cancel the New Delhi-Jammu Tawi Rajdhani Special, New Delhi Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Shree Shakti Special train and the New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi Special train.

Between September 24 and October 15, the railways cancelled 66 pairs of trains while short terminating or originating 254 pairs and diverting 44 pair of trains.
Also, 24 pairs of parcel trains were cancelled because of the farmers’ agitation.