Punjab Gets Major Railway Boost: New Line Sanctioned, Vande Bharat Announced
The Union Ministry of Railways has approved a new 18 km Rajpura–Mohali rail line in Punjab at a cost of ₹443 crore. The line will connect the Malwa region directly to Chandigarh, reducing travel distance by 66 km and fulfilling a 50-year-old demand.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and MoS Ravneet Singh Bittu announced the project, highlighting its minimal land acquisition and economic benefits for agriculture, industry, and tourism.
Additionally, a new Vande Bharat Express has been proposed on the Firozpur–Bathinda–Patiala–Delhi route, running six days a week with a journey time of 6 hours 40 minutes.
Investment in Punjab Railways has risen 24 times since 2014, reaching ₹5,421 crore annually in 2025-26. Major works include 382 km of new tracks, 1,634 km of electrification (making Punjab 100% electrified), and 409 flyovers/underpasses.
Current projects worth ₹25,000 crore cover 714 km of tracks, 30 Amrit stations, and 88 new ROBs/RUBs. The Firozpur–Patti line will also link Punjab’s border districts with Gujarat ports, creating a new economic corridor.
For the Chhath and Diwali rush, Indian Railways will run a record 12,000 special trains, compared to 7,724 last year. Over 10,000 trips have already been notified.
Vaishnaw also noted improved operations, with 90% punctuality in 29 railway divisions and some achieving over 98%.
