Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Announces New Rajpura-Mohali Railway Line to Boost Punjab’s Tourism
₹443 crore, 18-km project to directly connect Malwa region with Chandigarh, fulfilling a 50-year-old demand
The Impressive TimesNEW DELHI :With an aim to strengthen connectivity and boost Punjab’s religious and cultural tourism, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday announced a new Rajpura-Mohali railway line in Punjab, costing Rs 443 crore and spanning 18 km.
The Union Minister of Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw briefs the media on the 18 km Rajpura-Mohali new railway line, in New Delhi on September 23, 2025.
The new railway line will provide connectivity to Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib, Shrine of Shaikh Ahmad al-Faruqi al-Sirhindi, Haveli Todar Mal, Sanghol Museum, etc.
Vaishnaw has also proposed a New Vande Bharat Express train connecting Firozpur Cantt, Bhatinda, Patiala, and Delhi.
Addressing a joint press conference here, along with Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh, Vaishnaw said the long-awaited rail link in Punjab, Rajpura-Mohali new line has been sanctioned.
This 18-km-long railway line will cost Rs 443 crore and will directly connect the Malwa region with the state capital Chandigarh.
Vaishnaw said, “This is an important project. The Rajpura-Mohali new line is 18-km-long and costs Rs 443 crore. This entire area was virtually disconnected from the capital, which is why there has been a demand since the 1960s for a direct connection.”
Addressing the press conference, the Union minister of state for railways said, “The new railway line fulfils more than a 50-year old demand of the people of Punjab.”
The key benefits of the new railway line is direct connectivity.
Earlier, trains from Ludhiana had to go through Ambala to reach Chandigarh, adding extra distance and time. Now there will be a direct connection between Rajpura and Mohali, reducing travel distance by approximately 66 km.
All 13 districts of the Malwa region will now be well-connected with Chandigarh.
It will ease traffic on the existing Rajpura-Ambala route and shorten the Ambala-Morinda link. Among all the available options, this route was chosen because it requires the least agricultural land acquisition, ensuring minimal impact on farming activities.
Vaishnaw expressed special thanks to MoS Ravneet Singh and said the minister deserves full credit for the project’s development.
The railway minister said a new Vande Bharat Express has been proposed connecting Firozpur Cantt, Bhatinda, Patiala, and Delhi. It will run 6 days a week (except Wednesday). The journey time will be 6 hours and 40 minutes which will cover a distance of 486 km.
He further said railway projects of Rs 25,000 crores are being executed in Punjab.
“There are also new projects, doubling and tripling of lines. Amrit stations are also being built,” Vaishnaw said.
No Comments: