Shambhu border: From bustling highway to farmer protest battleground

The Haryana-Punjab interstate Shambhu border on National Highway-44, once a major artery handling 40,000–50,000 vehicles daily, has been closed since February 10 this year. The border, which was one of the busiest interstate passages, has now become a site of conflict, with farmers and security forces in a standoff.

The border was barricaded with multi-layered cement blocks, barbed wire and tyre busters and heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces was put in place to prevent the farmers from advancing. The farmers, leading an agitation under the banners of SKM (Non-Political) and KMM, are protesting various issues, including the demand for a legally guaranteed minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

On February 13, the farmers called for a "Delhi March," but the tight barricading and actions by the security forces led to clashes, prompting the indefinite closure of the Shambhu border.

Economic impact

The closure of the Shambhu toll plaza, one of the busiest toll plazas in the region, has caused substantial losses. Unlike other toll plazas that operate under a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) model, the Shambhu toll plaza is public-funded and allocated to a toll agency on an annual contract by the NHAI. Even though tolls are occasionally waived during protests, the extended closure has led to a daily loss of Rs 74 lakh, with the Central Government already facing a loss of over Rs 227 crore.

With the border closed, traffic is diverted to alternate routes, including village roads, causing severe congestion and delays on highways like Delhi-Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Jalandhar. Ajay Kumar, a truck driver, said: “Earlier, my trips to Rajpura would take 45-60 minutes, but now it takes four to five hours. I’m spending extra on fuel and the constant traffic jams are making it harder to meet clients' deadlines.”

Local businesses in Ambala City, especially in the popular clothes market, have also been hit hard by the closure. Traders and wholesalers report a decline in sales, with fewer customers visiting the markets.

Farmers' perspective

Tejveer Singh, a spokesperson for the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Shaheed Bhagat Singh), criticised the Haryana Government for blocking the road and preventing farmers from protesting peacefully. “Farmers have been injured and even lost their lives due to the government's stubborn approach. The government has falsely claimed that the farmers are the ones who blocked the roads, but we have proven that it is the government that closed the highway, not the farmers,” Singh said.

Government's justification

Local administration and Haryana Government officials have defended their actions, stating that farmers lacked the necessary permission from Delhi to hold protests. Ambala Superintendent of Police Surinder Singh Bhoria said, “We have repeatedly requested the farmer unions to seek permission from Delhi before proceeding. Ample security arrangements are in place to maintain law and order.”