World MSME Forum President Badish Jindal Urges Punjab CM to Resolve Repeated Shambhu Border Closure

Ludhiana, July 21, 2026: World MSME Forum president Badish Jindal has shot off letter to Punjab Chief Minister seeking urgent intervention to resolve the repeated closure of the Shambhu Border to protect Punjab's economy, industry and public interest.

In his letter, he wrote: “We wish to draw your kind attention towards the grave economic, industrial and public hardships being caused by the repeated closure of the Shambhu Border between Punjab and Haryana due to the ongoing farmers' protest. While every citizen respects the constitutional right to peaceful protest, the prolonged blockade of this vital national corridor is severely affecting Punjab's economy, industries, trade, exports and the daily lives of lakhs of people.

The Shambhu Border is one of the busiest transportation corridors connecting Punjab with Haryana, Delhi and the rest of India. Every day, tens of thousands of vehicles, including commercial trucks, container trailers, buses, cars and other passenger vehicles, use this route for the movement of industrial goods, agricultural produce, raw materials, machinery, essential commodities and passengers.

The repeated closure has forced vehicles to travel long alternative routes, resulting in a substantial increase in transportation costs, fuel consumption and transit time. Industries are facing delays in receiving raw materials and dispatching finished goods, leading to cancellation of orders, breach of delivery commitments, increased logistics expenses and loss of competitiveness in domestic and international markets.

The impact extends far beyond industry. Thousands of residents of Punjab travel daily to Delhi and the National Capital Region to catch domestic and international flights from Indira Gandhi International Airport. Many also travel for important meetings with Central Government Ministries, courts, government offices, hospitals, educational institutions, visa appointments, business meetings and other official work. The closure of the Shambhu Border has made these journeys highly unpredictable, causing people to miss flights, business appointments and government engagements after spending several additional hours on the road.

Punjab's exporters are also suffering significantly. International buyers, importers and business delegations who previously visited Punjab to inspect manufacturing facilities, negotiate contracts and develop trade relations are increasingly reluctant to travel because of uncertainty regarding road connectivity. Likewise, traders, distributors and industrial buyers from Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and other states are avoiding visits to Punjab due to the prolonged travel delays and inconvenience. This is directly affecting new business opportunities, industrial investments, exports and commercial confidence in the State.

Punjab is already witnessing industrial migration to neighbouring states because of various challenges. The continued disruption of one of the State's most important transport corridors further weakens investor confidence and creates an impression that industrial and commercial activities in Punjab are becoming increasingly difficult.

While we fully respect the concerns and democratic rights of the farming community, we sincerely appeal that every effort be made to ensure that public life and economic activities are not brought to a standstill.

We therefore earnestly request your good office to initiate immediate dialogue with the farmer organisations and all concerned stakeholders to arrive at a practical and mutually acceptable solution.”

Jindal suggested that the government may consider the measures such as requesting the farmer organisations to shift the venue of the protest to a location where it does not completely block one of North India's most important transport corridors; if the objective is to proceed towards Delhi, coordinate with the concerned authorities to facilitate their movement through a less congested or alternative route so that the movement of trade and the general public remains uninterrupted; ensure that at least one dedicated corridor remains open at all times for commercial vehicles, passenger traffic, emergency services and essential commodities; and establish a permanent coordination mechanism involving the Government, farmer representatives, industry associations and transport organisations to prevent such prolonged disruptions in the future.

Jindal said Punjab has always been the industrial and agricultural backbone of the nation. The prosperity of farmers and industries is interdependent, and neither can flourish at the cost of the other. A balanced solution through dialogue is therefore essential to safeguard employment, exports, investment and the overall economic interests of the State.

Concluding, he said, “We are confident that the Government of Punjab will take prompt and effective steps to resolve this issue in the larger interest of the people of Punjab.”