Leaders rise above party lines to welcome Vande Bharat in Patiala

In a major development for Patiala, the new Ferozepur-Delhi Vande Bharat Express, a state-of-the-art semi-high-speed train, will now run via the city — promising faster and more comfortable travel for residents.

The commencement of the service on Saturday sparked a rare scene of political camaraderie amid a subtle tug-of-war for credit between the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders.

Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu and Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi, usually on the opposite sides of the political aisle, were seen greeting each other warmly and sharing the stage in a show of statesmanship.

Gandhi was the first to take the lead, complimenting Bittu for his efforts. “It is due to Bittu’s persistence that the government has addressed the long-pending demand of the people of Patiala,” he said.

Describing the launch as “the beginning of a new dawn,” Gandhi added, “Let the true spirit of public service prevail over petty politics. Vande Bharat is the result of long-term infrastructure development. It is not the handiwork of one person or one party — it reflects the combined effort of all who wanted to see Patiala on the development map. This route was single-line since 1947, thus, no premium train ever ran on it. I persistently pursued the double-laning and electrification of this line.”

He further said, “I have been urging Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for faster train services, as Patiala is home to some of the country’s finest educational institutions. Students, businessmen, and professionals frequently travel to Delhi, and this new train will give a boost to the city’s hospitality, trade, and industrial sectors.”

Responding in equal measure, Bittu thanked Gandhi for his words and said the event was “a government programme, not a party function.” He added, “This is just the beginning — more such trains will be introduced soon.”

Bittu also thanked BJP Punjab Mahila Morcha president Jai Inder Kaur and former MP Preneet Kaur for their sustained efforts in pushing for the route.

Jai Inder Kaur termed the inclusion of Patiala on the Vande Bharat route “a milestone step for the city’s growth and connectivity.” She said, “The BJP-led Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to social welfare. Patiala, being a historic, educational, and commercial hub, now enjoys direct high-speed connectivity to the national capital.”

She added that the new service would particularly benefit students, professionals, and traders, giving a major boost to local and regional economic activity.

The Ferozpur–Delhi Vande Bharat Express will operate via Ferozpur, Faridkot, Patiala and Ambala, covering the 486-km stretch in 6 hours and 40 minutes, the fastest travel time on this corridor.

The train departs Ferozepur Cantt at 7.55 am six days a week (except Wednesdays), halting at Bathinda, Dhuri, Patiala, Ambala Cantt, Kurukshetra, and Panipat, before reaching New Delhi at 2.35 pm.

The train’s arrival here was met with enthusiastic cheers from residents and local leaders, marking the fulfilment of a long-pending demand of the city’s people. Residents were making a beeline to catch a glimpse of the train.