Ravneet Bittu promises new trains as Ferozepur celebrates maiden Vande Bharat journey

The much-awaited Vande Bharat Express, connecting Ferozepur with the national capital, was flagged off amidst fanfare from the Ferozepur Cantonment railway station by Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu on Saturday.

The maiden journey to Delhi also saw senior BJP leaders including state president Ashwani Sharma, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, and Rakesh Rathore, along with railway officials, onboard.

Related news: PM Modi launches 4 Vande Bharat Express services; Punjab's Ferozpur-Delhi route stands out

Decorated with flowers, the high-speed train departed at 8:30 am, slightly behind schedule due to the flagging-off ceremony, which witnessed a chaotic scene as BJP and Congress workers jostled for visibility.

Speaking on the occasion, Bittu said several more trains would be introduced soon, connecting regions like Majha and Malwa, ushering a new era of economic prosperity in the historically neglected border region.

While he did not make announcements related to the Tarn Taran by-poll, he hinted that the long-pending Ferozepur–Patti rail link, stalled for the past decade, would soon be initiated.

Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi said the train was just the beginning of development in Punjab, promising more trains and infrastructure projects for the border district.

Local residents, including senior citizens and members of various NGOs who had booked seats in advance, celebrated the train’s first journey with patriotic songs and dances.

PD Sharma, president of the Senior Citizen Council, said, “Today’s date will be remembered in the history of this border district. It is a matter of pride that PM Modi has given us this train. Ferozepur is no longer a backward district.”

Members of the Amritvela Prabhatferi Society also attended, waving flags and raising slogans of “Jai Shri Ram.”