Chandigarh: Indian Railways has sanctioned a new 18 km Rajpura–Mohali railway line at a cost of ₹443 crore, fulfilling a five-decade-old demand of Punjab. The line will provide direct connectivity between the Malwa region and the state capital, Chandigarh.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu announced the project, highlighting its potential to significantly cut travel distance. Trains from Ludhiana to Chandigarh, which earlier had to pass through Ambala, will now save approximately 66 km.
The project is designed to minimize agricultural land acquisition, ensuring negligible disruption to farming activities. All 13 districts of Malwa will benefit from enhanced rail connectivity, easing congestion on the Rajpura–Ambala route and strengthening the Ambala–Morinda link.
Economic and Social Impact
The new line is expected to:
- Facilitate faster movement of agricultural produce and reduce logistics costs.
- Support industries including textiles, manufacturing, and power.
- Boost tourism and pilgrim travel, improving access to sites such as Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib, Haveli Todar Mal, and Sanghol Museum.
New Train Services
A new Vande Bharat Express has also been proposed, connecting Firozpur Cantt.–Bathinda–Patiala–Delhi, operating six days a week with a journey time of 6 hours 40 minutes.
Record Railway Investments in Punjab
Investment in Punjab’s rail infrastructure has surged:
- From an average of ₹225 crore annually (2009–14) to ₹5,421 crore in 2025–26 — a 24-fold increase.
- Since 2014, 382 km of new tracks have been laid, 1,634 km electrified, and 409 rail bridges constructed.
- Ongoing projects worth ₹25,000 crore include 9 new tracks (714 km), 30 Amrit Stations, and 88 road flyovers and underpasses.
Festival Rush Preparedness
Indian Railways is preparing for the festive season by running a record 12,000 special trains for Chhath and Diwali, up from 7,724 last year. Over 10,000 trips have already been notified, with additional services in the pipeline.
Operational Improvements
Vaishnaw also noted that punctuality has improved significantly, with 29 of 70 railway divisions achieving above 90% punctuality, some even exceeding 98%, thanks to better infrastructure and streamlined
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