Centre approves Rs 764 crore for Ferozepur–Patti rail link, awaits Punjab’s nod for land acquisition

The proposed 25.72-km broad-gauge line between Ferozepur and Patti, spanning parts of Ferozepur and Tarn Taran districts, is expected to reduce the rail distance between Ferozepur and Amritsar from 196 km to about 100 km, and shorten the Jammu–Ferozepur–Fazilka–Mumbai corridor by 236 km. It will serve as a crucial link between the Malwa and Majha regions of Punjab, enhancing regional mobility and logistics efficiency, improving industrial connectivity to ports, he added.

Bittu said the Railways had written to Punjab Chief Secretary K A P Sinha about the project on October 28 this year, a day after it was approved, but there had been no response so far. “We want to expedite the project, but the state government must appoint officers to determine land prices and complete the acquisition process,” he said.

The project requires around 166 hectares of land—about 70 hectares in Ferozepur and 95.7 hectares in Tarn Taran—covering 12 villages (eight in Tarn Taran and four in Ferozepur). “This project began in 2008 and remained on paper due to lack of funds. Now, the Union Government is ready to bear even the land acquisition cost, given the state’s financial condition,” he added.

Bittu said the new rail line will connect the Jalandhar–Ferozepur and Patti–Khemkaran routes, providing a direct and alternative connection close to the international border. Passing through areas of strategic defence significance, it will facilitate the rapid movement of defence personnel, equipment, and supplies.

Bittu said that beyond strategic benefits, the project promises significant socio-economic gains, benefiting nearly 10 lakh people and creating approximately 2.5 lakh employment opportunities. It will serve 2,500–3,500 daily passengers, particularly students, employees, and patients from nearby villages. It will also link Amritsar, a major commercial, educational, and religious hub attracting over one lakh tourists daily, with Ferozepur, ensuring faster connectivity and stronger regional integration.

Importantly, the new alignment will revive a historic route lost during the Partition, reducing the Ferozepur–Khemkaran distance from 294 km to 110 km, he added.

Bittu said the Centre was fully committed to implementing railway projects in Punjab, adding that Rs 2,000 crore worth of railway works were already underway in the state, with more in the pipeline. He also mentioned key upcoming projects, including the Qadian–Beas rail link, the Ludhiana–Chandigarh double line, and the rail extension to Talwandi Sabo.

Rajpura–Mohali rail link, other plans

Referring to another pending project, Bittu said the Rajpura–Mohali rail link, announced in September this year, had also not progressed as the Punjab Government was yet to respond to the Centre’s communication. The link is expected to ease congestion and improve connectivity between southern and central Punjab once executed.

On other issues, Bittu said the Railways was considering a stop for the Ferozepur-Delhi Vande Bharat Express at Barnala, following requests from Sangrur MP Meet Hayer, Rajya Sabha MP Rajinder Gupta, and BJP leader Kewal Dhillon. He also indicated that special trains would be operated during the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, with programmes planned across Punjab and other parts of the country.

Dr Vikramjit Singh Sahney, a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, welcomed the approval of the Ferozepur–Patti railway line project. He said he had taken up the project multiple times with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State Bittu and that it would boost Punjab’s economy on a larger scale, he added.

Dr Sahney said the new railway line would be a game-changer for Punjab. It will drastically reduce the distance from Amritsar to Kandla and Mundra ports by 240 km, saving nearly 12 hours in travel time and reducing freight costs for export industries, he added.

Highlighting the agricultural benefits, Dr Sahney said the project would enable farmers to transport their perishable goods swiftly to the western seaports for exports and domestic markets in Gujarat and Maharashtra, improving their incomes and reducing wastage. Such infrastructure growth empowers the rural economy and uplifts lives at the grassroots, he added.

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