Centre’s nod to Patti-Makhu railway link welcomed

A day after Minister Of State for Railways Ravneet Bittu announced the approval of the long-delayed 25.72-km Makhu (Ferozepur)-Patti railway line project, former MP and senior BJP leader Shwait Malik and the district BJP unit offered congratulations to residents, who have long batted for the construction of the significant railway link.

The line will be built at the cost of Rs 764 crore, with Rs 165 crore of the budget

allocated for land acquisition.

Strategically and economically, the project holds great importance as the new rail section will provide direct connectivity between Ferozepur and Amritsar, reducing travel time between the cities.

The Railways will bear the cost of land acquisition for project, and work is likely to start soon. Malik, while calling out the previous state government’s “lack of intent” for the project, said: “The AAP government could not even complete the land acquisition, worth Rs 48 crore, for the project, which was stalled for over nine years. A social assessment report was submitted by Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), yet the project could not proceed. They politicised the issue, but, now, the Centre is making the project a reality.”

He added that the bus rapid transit system (BRTS) project, built at a cost of several crores, was now laying “in the cold”.

“I have written a letter the Urban Development Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to give a green signal to metro transit for Amritsar, which will ease traffic, and develop the city’s public transport system at par with global standards. He has assured (me) that he would consider my request,” Malik said.

MP Gurjeet Aujla, who had repeatedly raised the issue of the railway line in the Parliament, called it a “significant step” in the economic development of Amritsar.

“It remained a priority, as the railway link is significant for boosting trade and tourism in Amritsar. It will provide a railway line parallel to the border between India and Pakistan,” he said.

Meanwhile, stakeholders who had raised the demand for Makhu-Patti railway connectivity, including CII Punjab chapter members, welcomed the news.

“We are delighted that the Makhu-Patti rail link has been approved by the Union Government. This is indeed a force multiplier for the economic development of the region, strategic for defence logistics, a direct connection of northern and western Punjab, and a possible fast-paced freight route to the ports,” said Gunbir Singh, former chairman, CII Punjab, who had initiated the project under his chairmanship, alongside businessman Pyare Lal Seth.

The constant efforts of the CII fructified in visits of two parliamentary committees, and an impact assessment by GNDU.

“The strategic rail connection from Amritsar, through western Punjab and Rajasthan to the ports, can create a faster (an over-6-hour reduction) and shorter (down by 240 kms) access to ports and to financial capital Mumbai. Besides cutting down travel time, it is strategically imperative for the nation. We do hope that, this time, the game-changing project is executed, and does not remain on paper,” Singh said.