(MOREPIC1)Vikram Ditya Sharma /Ferozepur
Amidst much enthusiasm and celebration, the long-awaited “Vande Bharat” Express connecting Ferozepur with the national capital was flagged off from the Ferozepur Cantonment railway station by Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu. Senior BJP leaders including State President Ashwani Sharma, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, and Rakesh Rathore, besides top railway officials, were onboard for the train’s maiden journey to Delhi.
The flower-decked train departed at 8:30 am, slightly behind schedule, as BJP and Congress workers jostled for visibility during the ceremony. Addressing the gathering, Bittu said more trains would soon be introduced to connect Majha and Malwa, ushering in a new era of development for this border belt. Referring indirectly to the long-pending Ferozepur–Patti rail link, he said the long-delayed work would begin soon.
Congress MP Sher Singh Ghubaya and former MLA Parminder Singh Pinki also marked their presence in the event.Local residents, including senior citizens and NGO members, celebrated the moment by dancing to patriotic tunes. P.D. Sharma, President of the Senior Citizen Council, called it a historic day for Ferozepur, saying, “It is a matter of pride that our district finds a place among the four where the new Vande Bharat has been launched. Ferozepur is no longer a backward district.”