Indian Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared exciting news on Tuesday: the central government has greenlit a new 18-kilometer railway line connecting Rajpura and Mohali in Punjab. This Rs 443 crore project will create a direct rail link from southern Punjab to the capital city of Chandigarh, making travel smoother and faster for everyone.
Before this, trains heading from Ludhiana to Chandigarh had to detour through Ambala, which tacked on extra distance and time. The minister explained that the new Rajpura-Mohali route will cut that journey by about 66 kilometers. Now, all 13 districts in the Malwa region will enjoy better connections to Chandigarh. It will also lighten the load on the busy Rajpura-Ambala track and shorten the Ambala-Morinda route.
Planners picked this path because it needs the least amount of farmland, keeping the hit to local agriculture small. Vaishnaw highlighted how the project will supercharge key industries like textiles, manufacturing, and farming in Punjab. It builds a strong network linking the state’s agricultural hub to big commercial centers and ports, speeding up the transport of farm goods and slashing costs for places like the Rajpura Thermal Power Plant.
Pilgrims will benefit too, with easier access to sacred spots such as Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib, the shrine of Shaikh Ahmad al-Faruqi al-Sirhindi, Haveli Todar Mal, and the Sanghol Museum.
In another boost, a new Vande Bharat Express train is in the works, linking Firozpur Cantt to Delhi through Bhatinda and Patiala. This high-speed service will run six days a week—skipping Wednesdays—and cover the 486-kilometer trip in just 6 hours and 40 minutes.
Vaishnaw pointed out the massive jump in railway investments for Punjab. Back in 2009-2014, the state saw an average of Rs 225 crore per year. Now, it’s soaring to Rs 5,421 crore for 2025-26—that’s 24 times more than before. Currently, projects worth Rs 25,000 crore are underway, including nine new tracks spanning 714 kilometers at Rs 21,926 crore, upgrades to 30 Amrit stations for Rs 1,122 crore, and 88 flyovers and underpasses costing Rs 1,238 crore.
One standout is the Firozpur-Patti rail line, which will tie border districts like Amritsar, Taran Taran, and Firozpur to Gujarat’s ports. This creates a vital economic corridor, linking these areas to major cities and cutting logistics costs big time.
On a national note, Vaishnaw announced a record 12,000 special trains for the Chhath and Diwali festive rush this year—up from 7,724 last year—to help millions travel home without the usual hassle.
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