Panjab Requests Extra Trains to Ferry Wheat; Eateries Suppress Sales to Evade GST

March

2026

Battling a severe storage crunch ahead of the wheat procurement season, the Panjab government has requested the union government to deploy 860 special trains in April, May, and June to transport freshly procured wheat directly from grain markets to consuming states. Panjab anticipates procurement of around 12.5 MMT of wheat during 2026–27. Panjab has planned 409 trains for April, 440 for May, and 11 for June. Officials acknowledged that while the situation remains challenging, the plan could provide partial relief. A senior official said that Panjab consistently procures more grain than it consumes, making timely transportation to deficit states critical. However, the union railway ministry has not yet given its nod to the plan. Meanwhile, a Ludhiana court has awarded five years in prison to 13 and four years to four accused in the Ludhiana 2012 Above Poverty Line wheat scam. The court has acquitted six. In 2012, over 1,100 wheat bags meant for India’s Public Welfare Scheme were sold to private flour mill owners for sale in the open market, but they were stolen and confiscated from four trucks. Additionally, hundreds of restaurants in the state have been found suppressing sales records by deleting cash bills and evading the payment of Goods and Services Tax (GST) of over USD 10.56M. The Income Tax authorities had originally unearthed the scam nationally and issued notices to Panjab to launch a full-fledged investigation. While the eateries recorded all orders on cash, credit card, or UPI in a day, at the end of the month they would use a backend login to wipe out 30–50% of the bills paid in cash. Furthermore, despite earlier directions, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC), expressed serious concern over the slow progress in addressing key issues at Dr. Vidya Sagar Institute of Mental Health, Amritsar and at Amritsar Central Jail. During a visit by PSHRC to the facilities the team highlighted the need to maintain a buffer zone around the jail boundary wall and to strengthen de-addiction facilities. The PSHRC team flagged rising incidents of suicides and self-harm among inmates alongwith shortage of staff, inadequate police personnel for court production and medical escort, and deficiencies in medical jail infrastructure (earlier coverage).