Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi another major railway milestone has been achieved for Punjab. The long-awaited rail link in Punjab, Rajpura-Mohali new line has been sanctioned.
Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology; and Shri Ravneet Singh Bittu, Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries made this announcement today. It fulfills a more than 50-year old demand of the people of Punjab.
This 18 km railway line will cost Rs 443 crores and will directly connect the Malwa region with the state capital Chandigarh.
Key Benefits of the New Line
Direct Connectivity: Earlier, trains from Ludhiana had to go through Ambala to reach Chandigarh, adding extra distance and time. Now there will be a direct connection between Rajpura and Mohali, reducing travel distance by approximately 66 km.
All 13 districts of the Malwa region will now be well-connected with Chandigarh. It will ease traffic on the existing Rajpura-Ambala route and shorten the Ambala-Morinda link.
Among all the available options, this route was chosen because it requires the least agricultural land acquisition, ensuring minimal impact on farming activities.
Economic Impact
The project will boost industries including textiles, manufacturing, and agriculture. It will create a comprehensive network connecting Punjab’s agricultural heartland with major commercial centers and ports, facilitating:
- Faster movement of agricultural produce
- Reduced transportation costs for industries eg. Rajpura Thermal Power Plant
- Better connectivity for pilgrims visiting religious sites and enhanced tourism potential
- Connectivity to Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib, Shrine of Shaikh Ahmad al-Faruqi al-Sirhindi, Haveli Todar Mal, Sanghol Museum etc.
Significant Service Quality Improvement
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also announced today that railway operations have shown significant improvement, with above 90% punctuality achieved in 29 out of 70 railway divisions across the country. Some divisions have been performing with a punctuality rate of over 98%.
This has been possible because of better infrastructure, planning & smoother operations across the railway network.
