Businesses Breathe Easy as Border Blockade Cleared

One industry estimate put losses at Rs one lakh crore due to blockade at Shambhu and Khanauri border points

- NEERAJ MOHAN

After Nearly 400 days of disruption and blockade, traffic has finally resumed at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Haryana and Punjab, bringing much-needed relief to thousands of residents who were counting the losses every day for the past 13 months.

Both the highways NH 44 and NH 52—which connect Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to the New Delhi via Haryana—were blocked by the Haryana police since February 13, 2024 to prevent hundreds of Punjab farmers from entering Haryana as they were planning to start a 2020-21 like protest in Delhi for their pending demands including guaranteed Minimum Support Price.

But the reopening of the highways following a sudden crackdown by the Punjab government and removal of the makeshift shelters of farmers has not only eased travel for daily commuters but the development has also come as a big relief to the people who suffered huge losses due to the blockade of the key highways.

The road closures, which lasted over 400 days, had forced people to take long detours of up to 10-15 km, leading to increased fuel expenses and travel time.