Life in Punjab ground to a halt on Monday as a statewide bandh called by farmers disrupted daily life, leaving residents grappling with cancelled train services, blocked highways, and shuttered markets. The bandh, from 7 am to 4 pm, saw over 270 protest sites spring up across the State. From highways to railway tracks, farmers, supported by a wide spectrum of groups, including transport unions, employee organizations, left no stone unturned to make their voices heard in support of farmers’ demands.
The bandh was organized on the call given by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), Non-Political, and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha in support of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal's 35-day long hunger strike demanding farm reforms, including legal guarantee on the Minimum Support Price (MSP), a comprehensive debt waiver for farmers, and justice for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
KMM convenor and farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher described the bandh as a “resounding success”, claiming that Punjabis across all walks of life stood united.
The scale of the protest was unparalleled, with major arterial roads, including the Amritsar-Jalandhar, Amritsar-Jammu, and Jalandhar-Panipat highways, completely blocked by agitating farmers. The ripple effects were felt in cities and towns alike, as public transport came to a standstill, university exams were postponed, and essential supplies like fruits, vegetables, milk, and fuel faced delays. Free langars served tea and meals to protesters at several sites, reflecting the community spirit behind the agitation.
Despite the chaos, farmers maintained that emergency services and critical travelers were allowed passage. Monday’s bandh underscored the farmers’ determination to fight for their rights.
232 Trains Impacted, 174 Cancelled
One of the most severely impacted sectors was rail transport. Over 232 trains were disrupted, with 174 trains, including prominent services like Vande Bharat and Shatabdi Express, being cancelled. The New Delhi-Amritsar Shatabdi and Chandigarh-Kalka Shatabdi were among the casualties, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. The New Delhi-Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat, a vital connection for pilgrims, also faced cancellation.
Key affected routes included New Delhi-Vaishno Devi and New Delhi-Amb Andaura, with three Vande Bharat trains cancelled. Additionally, seven trains were partially cancelled, 14 regulated, and 13 rescheduled. Railways implemented short-originating and short-terminating measures for 37 trains.
The office of Ferozepur Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) maintained that the number of trains affected due to the bandh is likely to go up.
Major railway stations such as Jalandhar, Amritsar, and Ludhiana turned into hubs of frustration as passengers scrambled for information. The Pune-Jammu Tawi Jhelum Express was stopped at Jalandhar Cantt, while several long-distance trains were either short-terminated or diverted.
The disruptions extended to freight services, compounding the economic impact. Bulk SMS alerts were sent to passengers, and additional ticket counters were set up to handle refunds. However, for many, the inconvenience was unavoidable.
Highways and Toll Plazas Blocked
Highways were another focal point of the bandh. The Patiala-Chandigarh highway witnessed massive sit-ins at Dhareri Jattan Toll Plaza, bringing vehicular movement to a complete standstill. In Phagwara, farmers blocked the NH-44 at the Sugar Mill crossing, cutting off access to Nakodar, Hoshiarpur, and Nawanshahr. The Behram toll plaza on the Phagwara-Banga road was also seized by protesters. At Amritsar’s Golden Gate, farmers, led by Sarwan Pandher, staged a massive dharna at the city’s main entry point, halting traffic.
In Bathinda’s Rampura Phul, the highway was blocked, affecting routes leading to Sri Ganganagar and Muktsar. Protesters in Ludhiana gathered at Ladhowal Toll Plaza, Samrala Chowk, and Khanna, disrupting the Ludhiana-Samrala road.
In many locations, commuters found themselves stuck for hours. A wedding procession in Jalandhar faced an unexpected hurdle when the groom’s car was stopped. Displaying resilience, the groom joined the protesters briefly, waving a farmer union flag before proceeding.
Public Transport Grinds to a Halt
Public and private bus services were largely suspended, leaving inter-city and inter-state travelers stranded due to chakka jam at over 200 locations. PEPSU Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) buses were not plying on the roads, although they had announced a four-hour service shutdown from 10 am to 2 pm. PRTC Employees Union’s Harkesh Kumar said that buses were not plying on the roads. Routes to and from Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi were also impacted as buses avoided entering Punjab. Private transport operators echoed the sentiment, halting operations across key routes from 7 am to 4 pm. In Ambala, commuters heading to Punjab faced overcrowded buses and long waits. Many daily commuters to cities like Chandigarh and Zirakpur struggled to find alternatives, with some turning to taxis at inflated fares.
Airfares Skyrocketed
Airfares on the Chandigarh-Delhi route skyrocketed on Monday with prices soaring nearly six times the usual rate amid the statewide Punjab Bandh. A ticket that typically costs around Rs 3,000 was being sold for up to Rs 19,000, leaving travelers stunned. Adding to the chaos, most airlines refrained from displaying booking prices for the day on online platforms, restricting ticket purchases to airport counters or official airline websites. The steep surge in fares and limited booking options compounded the frustration for those urgently needing to travel, highlighting the ripple effects of the bandh on Punjab's aviation sector.
Markets, Businesses, Malls, and Educational Institutions Shut
The bandh’s impact was felt in the heart of Punjab’s cities and towns as markets and even malls remained eerily silent. In Ludhiana, major hubs like Chaura Bazaar, Vishwakarma Chowk, and Gill Road saw limited activity. However, some areas like Ludhiana’s Chaura Bazaar attempted to remain open, leading to altercations between shopkeepers and protesters.
All universities, including Punjab University-Chandigarh, Guru Nanak Dev University-Amritsar, postponed exams scheduled for the day. Government offices witnessed thin attendance, while banks remained open but largely inactive due to the absence of customers.
The disruption extended to agriculture and trade. Grain markets across Punjab were shut, and truckloads of fruits and vegetables were stranded, delaying supplies to neighbouring states. Fuel stations in several districts also closed, adding to the inconvenience for commuters.
While the bandh was largely peaceful, there were sporadic instances of tension and altercations with farmers. In Ludhiana’s Khanna area, a car driver allegedly attempted to run over a protesting farmer. The individual was detained and claimed that it was an accident. In Jalandhar, altercations were reported between pedestrians and farmers blocking roads.
Despite these incidents, the farmer leaders ensured that emergency services and critical travelers, such as those heading to hospitals or airports, for interviews and even wedding processions, were given free passage. “Our protest is against injustice, not against ordinary citizens,” said Pandher, emphasizing that the bandh was aimed at pressuring the government to address farmers' demands.
Neighbouring States Feel the Heat
The bandh’s impact was not confined to Punjab. In Haryana’s Ambala and Himachal Pradesh’s districts bordering Punjab, transport services were disrupted as buses avoided entering Punjab. Commuters traveling between states faced detours and delays, affecting daily schedules. Traffic movement was also disrupted in Jammu and Kashmir’s Lakhanpur, which is considered the gateway and entry point of entire surface transport to the state of Jammu and Kashmir from outside the state.
Traders Slam Bandh, Cite Economic Losses
The statewide bandh in Punjab drew sharp criticism from the trading and industrial community, who highlighted its crippling impact on the state’s economy. Factory owners and traders in Ludhiana, the industrial hub of Punjab, decried the disruptions caused by roadblocks and cancelled transport services, which left workers stranded and production lines stalled. “We sympathize with the farmers’ demands but strongly oppose their methods, as these protests are paralyzing industries and inflicting economic losses on a state already grappling with financial challenges,” said All Industries and Trade Forum convenor Badish Jindal. Many traders argued that while the farmers’ plight deserves attention, the frequent bandhs and roadblocks are not only alienating allies but also jeopardizing livelihoods, supply chains, and investor confidence in Punjab’s industrial sector.
Successful Punjab Bandh: Pandher
KMM convenor Pandher, addressing a press conference after the bandh, said that the residents of Punjab have extended their support to the statewide shutdown “wholeheartedly” and more than 280 blockades were installed which disrupted road and rail services in the state. “We had appealed to three crore Punjabis to support Punjab bandh. As per the information I am getting, people have supported this bandh. Since morning, almost 90-99 percent traffic was not on the roads. It means, Punjabis have extended their support to this bandh wholeheartedly. It's a successful ‘Punjab Bandh’,” said Pandher. “All establishments were closed. Punjabis have shown their unity today and they extended full support…Train services were also suspended and no train was entering Punjab,” he said, while claiming that their strike has received strong support from transporters, employee unions, traders and religious bodies.
