Railways to revive British-era Qadian–Beas rail line in Punjab after nearly a century

Bittu said, “Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnaw have already made it clear that there is no dearth of money for railway projects in Punjab. I am also tirelessly working to initiate new projects, complete pending ones, and revive projects that were dumped due to unforeseen reasons. Mohali–Rajpura, Ferozpur–Patti, and now Qadian–Beas rail link have all been taken up. I was fully aware of how important this line is. That is why I instructed officials to clear all obstacles and restart construction. This new track will give a vital boost to the struggling industrial units of Batala, the region’s ‘steel town’.”

According to a letter issued by the Chief Administrative Officer (Construction), Northern Railway, “The Railway Board desires that the Qadian–Beas line be defreezed and the detailed estimate resubmitted and sanctioned at the earliest so that construction can begin”.

The project has a long history. It was originally sanctioned in 1929 by the British government and taken up by the North-Western Railway. By 1932, nearly one-third of the work had been completed before the project was abruptly shelved.

The Railways later classified it as a ‘socially desirable project’ and included it in the 2010 Railway Budget. However, financial concerns raised by the Planning Commission once again stalled the work. Under the ‘socially desirable projects’ category, the Railways focus on inclusive development by providing affordable and accessible transport services, even when such projects are not driven purely by revenue considerations, said Bittu.

Oppn leader Partap Singh Bajwa hails Railways

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa welcomed the fresh initiative taken by the Railways Ministry to revive the long-delayed Qadian–Beas rail project. He expressed hope that the New Year will finally bring the breakthrough that the people of the region have awaited for nearly a century.

Bajwa extended gratitude to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and MoS Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu for moving the project out of a prolonged bureaucratic freeze. He recalled that the Qadian–Beas rail link was first strongly pursued during his tenure as Member of Parliament, when he persuaded the then Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee to prioritise it. He also recalled meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017 and urging him personally to initiate work on the project.

Bajwa noted that the 40-km line was originally estimated at ₹205 crore, but due to years of administrative inertia, the cost has now escalated to around ₹840 crore.

He said the demand reflects the collective will of residents, industrialists, and religious communities across Qadian, Beas, and Batala for its early completion. Bajwa emphasised that the project holds immense socio-economic value, particularly for Qadian, which serves as the international headquarters of the Ahmadiyya sect and receives a steady flow of domestic and global visitors.

Bajwa added that the rail link would bring significant advantages to Batala’s industrial sector by providing direct access to the Amritsar–Delhi rail corridor. It would also facilitate the movement of pilgrims visiting Dera Beas and the Baba Namdev Dera at Ghuman, thereby strengthening the region’s spiritual and cultural connectivity.

Bajwa further stressed the strategic importance of the Qadian–Beas rail line, stating that it would provide an alternative supply route to Jammu and Kashmir and significantly strengthen military logistics — a factor of considerable national interest. Urging speedy action, he said the Railways Ministry should approve the detailed estimate without further delay so that work on the ground can begin promptly. Considering the scale of national infrastructure spending, he said, the requirement of ₹840 crore is modest, and with a single decisive approval, the long-pending demand of people can finally be fulfilled.

Rajpura–Mohali rail link revival announced on May 20

The Rajpura–Mohali rail link was reactivated recently, with the formal revival announced on May 20.  The project — originally approved in 2017 but stalled for years — was included in Northern Railways’ 2025–26 “New Lines” plan, and the Centre cleared a budget, paving the way for prompt land acquisition and construction.

Similarly, the Ferozepur–Patti rail link saw its long-pending clearance on November 12, when the Ministry of Railways sanctioned the 25.72-km line with an outlay of ₹764 crore, signalling its prioritisation after years of delay. This fresh approval is being viewed as a major step toward improved connectivity between Punjab’s Malwa and Majha regions.