Executive Summary:
This document details the status of pending and ongoing railway projects in Punjab as of April 1, 2025, and outlines budget allocations, commissioning of new tracks, and recently completed projects. It identifies projects delayed due to land acquisition issues and emphasizes the dependence on the Punjab government's support for timely project execution. The document also mentions ongoing surveys for new railway lines.
Key Points / Main Content:
Budget and Infrastructure:
* Budget allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works in Punjab has increased from Rs. 225 crore/year (2009-14) to Rs. 5421 crore (2025-26).
* Commissioning of new tracks: 147 km (29.4 km/year) during 2009-14 and 385 km (35 km/year) during 2014-25.
Ongoing Projects:
* As of April 1, 2025, there are 9 sanctioned projects (4 new lines and 5 doubling) totaling 714 km, costing Rs. 21,926 crore.
* 115 km have been commissioned, with an expenditure of Rs. 8079 crore up to March 2025.
Recently Completed Projects:
* Key projects include the doubling of Jakhal-Mansa (45 km, Rs. 163 Cr), Ambala-Chandigarh (45 km, Rs. 338 Cr), Mansa-Bhatinda (52 km, Rs. 216 Cr), Jalandhar-Jammu Tawi (211 km, Rs. 850 Cr) and Rajpura-Bathinda (173 km, Rs. 2,459 Cr).
Projects Underway:
* Ongoing projects include the Nangal Dam-Talwara new line (123 km, Rs. 2,018 Cr), Bhanupalli-Beri new line (63 km, Rs. 6,753 Cr), Ferozpur-Patti new line (26 km, Rs. 300 Cr), Ludhiana-Kila Raipur doubling (17 km, Rs. 238 Cr), Ludhiana-Mullanpur doubling (21 km, Rs. 295 Cr), and Alal-Himmatana Chord line (12 km, Rs. 174 Cr).
Delays and Land Acquisition:
* Several projects are delayed due to land acquisition issues, particularly the Firozpur-Patti new line, Nangal Dam-Talwara new line, and Alal-Himmatana Chord line.
* The Firozpur-Patti new line (26 km) requires 166 Ha of land, with the award published in March 2023, but disbursement is pending by the State Government.
Surveys:
* Surveys are underway for the Baddi-Ghanauli new line (25 km), Sirhind-Morinda-Nangal Dam doubling (103 km), Ambala Cantt-Jammu Tawi 3rd line (369 km), Gurdaspur-Mukerian new line (30 km) and Rajpura Mohali new line (18 km).
Project Sanctioning:
* Projects are sanctioned based on remunerativeness, traffic projections, connectivity, congestion, demands from stakeholders, operational requirements, and socio-economic considerations.
Completion Factors:
* Project completion depends on land acquisition, forest clearance, cost sharing by the State Government, project priority, shifting utilities, statutory clearances, geological conditions, law and order, and climatic conditions.
Impact Analysis:
Government of Punjab:
* Impact: Critical for timely land acquisition to avoid project delays.
* Action Required: Expedite land acquisition and disbursement of awards for projects like the Firozpur-Patti new line and provide land free of cost.
Ministry of Railways:
* Impact: Responsible for project execution, budget allocation, and coordination with the State Government.
* Action Required: Monitor project progress, address bottlenecks related to land acquisition and clearances, and ensure timely fund disbursement.
Indian Railways (Northern Railway Zone):
* Impact: Responsible for surveying, sanctioning, and executing railway projects within Punjab.
* Action Required: Continue project execution, address delays, and provide project details on the Indian Railways website.
Citizens of Punjab:
* Impact: Benefit from improved railway infrastructure and connectivity.
* Action Required: None specified.
Key Entities Referenced
Punjab: A state in India where railway projects are being discussed.
Ministry of Railways: The Indian government ministry responsible for railway infrastructure and projects.
Ashwini Vaishnaw: The Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology of India.
Northern Railway NR Zone: A zonal railway within Indian Railways responsible for railway projects in the State of Punjab.
Firozpur-Patti new line: A new railway line project between Firozpur and Patti facing delays due to land acquisition issues in Punjab.
Nangal Dam-Talwara new line: A new railway line project between Nangal Dam and Talwara facing delays due to land acquisition issues.
Jakhal Mansa Doubling: A recently completed railway doubling project between Jakhal and Mansa.
Ambala Cantt-Jammu Tawi 3rd line: A railway line survey project between Ambala Cantt and Jammu Tawi.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2954
TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025
PENDING/ONGOING RAILWAY PROJECTS IN PUNJAB
2954. SHRI MALVINDER SINGH KANG:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of pending and ongoing railway projects in the State of
Punjab;
(b) whether these projects have undergone time and cost overruns;
(c) if so, the details of the original estimated cost, the period of
completion, total estimated cost and the expenditure incurred
thereon; and
(d) the time by when these projects is likely to be completed and
made operational?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (d): Budget allocation for Infrastructure projects and safety
works, falling fully/ partly in Punjab has increased significantly. The
details are as under:
Period Outlay
2009-14 Rs. 225 crore/year
2025-26 Rs. 5421 Cr. (more than 24 times)The details of commissioning / laying of new track falling fully/partly in
the State of Punjab during 2009-14 and 2014-25 are as below:-
new Tracks Average Commissioning of new
Period
Commissioned tracks
2009-14 147 Km 29.4 km/year
2014-25 385 Km 35 km per year
As on 01.04.2025, 09 Projects (04 New line and 05 Doubling) of total
length 714 km, costing Rs.21,926 crore, falling fully/partly in the State
of Punjab are sanctioned, out of which, 115 km length has been
commissioned and an expenditure of Rs. 8079 crores has been incurred
up to March 2025. The status of the work is summarized as:
No. of Total Length Exp upto March
Category projects Length Commissioned 2025
(km) (Km) (Rs. in cr.)
New
4 252 64 7359
Line
Doubling 5 462 51 720
TOTAL 9 714 115 8079
Details of some of the recently completed projects falling fully/partly in
the state of Punjab are as under:
Total Length
# Project Cost(in Cr)
(Km)
1 Jakhal- Mansa Doubling 45 163
2 Ambala-Chandigarh Doubling 45 338
3 Mansa-Bhatinda Doubling 52 216
4 Jalandhar-Jammu Tawi Doubling 211 850
5 Rajpura-Bathinda Doubling 173 2,459Further, some of the Projects falling fully/partly in Punjab which have
been taken up are as under:
Project
# Length (Km) Cost(Cr)
Nangal Dam-Talwara new line 123 2,018
1
Bhanupalli-Beri new line 63 6,753
2
Ferozpur-Patti new line 26 300
3
Ludhiana-Kila Raipur Doubling 17 238
4
Ludhiana-Mullanpur Doubling 21 295
5
Alal-Himmatana Chord line 12 174
6
Government of India is geared up to execute projects, however success
depends upon the support of Government of Punjab. For instance,
details of some major projects which are delayed due to land
acquisition are as under: -
SN Name of the project Total land Land Balance Land
required acquired to be acquired
(in Ha) (in Ha) (in Ha)
1. Firozpur-Patti new line 166 0 166
2. Nangal Dam-Talwara New 278 189 89
Line
3. Alal-Himmatana Chord line 20 0 20
Firozpur-Patti New line (26 km) situated fully in Punjab is an important
project near the international border. Land for project is to be handed
over free of cost for this project by State Govt. of Punjab. Total 166 Ha
land is to be acquired in the districts of Firozpur and Tarn Taran. Award
for entire land has been published in Mar’23. However, disbursement of
award has not been done by state govt. The project is yet to take off
due to delay in land acquisition by the State Government.Railway projects are surveyed/ sanctioned/executed Zonal Railway wise
and not State-wise/District-wise as the Railways’ projects may span
across State/District boundaries. Railway infrastructural Projects in the
State of Punjab are covered by Northern Railway (NR) Zone of Indian
Railways. Zonal Railway wise details of Railway projects are made
available in public domain on Indian Railway’s website.
Some of the important surveys falling fully/partly in Punjab that have
been taken up areas under:
# Name of survey Length (Km)
1 Baddi-Ghanauli new line 25
2 Sirhind-Morinda-Nangal Dam Doubling 103
3 Ambala Cantt-Jammu Tawi 3rd line 369
4 Gurdaspur-Mukerian new Line 30
5 Rajpura- Mohali new line 18
Railway projects are sanctioned on the basis of remunerativeness,
traffic projections, last mile connectivity, missing links and alternate
routes, augmentation of congested/saturated lines, demands raised by
State Governments, Central Ministries, Members of Parliament, other
public representatives, Railway’s own operational requirement, socio-
economic considerations including connectivity to religious and tourist
places etc. depending upon throwforward of ongoing projects and
overall availability of funds.
The completion of any Railway project depends on various factors like
quick land acquisition by State Government, forest clearance by
officials of forest department, deposition of cost share by StateGovernment in cost sharing projects, priority of projects, shifting of
infringing utilities, statutory clearances from various authorities,
geological and topographical conditions of area, law and order situation
in the area of project(s) site, number of working months in a year for
particular project site due to climatic conditions etc.
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