MP Aujla raises demand for new railway station & track

During the Lok Sabha’s Zero Hour on Friday, MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla urged the Union Government to give immediate priority to major railway development projects in Amritsar. Aujla said that although Amritsar is an international religious and tourist hub, its railway infrastructure has not kept pace with the city’s growing needs.

He thanked Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, saying that his eight-year-old demand for Central Government acquisition of land for the Patti-Makhu rail link has finally been accepted. Reiterating his call for a new rail line and a modern railway station, he said, “The state government lacked the resources, so I appealed to the Centre for intervention, the acceptance of which is welcome news. Amritsar now urgently needs a new, modern railway station.”

Aujla recalled that former Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had stated in Parliament that the “Amritsar railway station has been approved,” but the project was stalled due to design-related issues. He urged the current Railway Minister to expedite the project to meet the region’s tourism, business and mobility requirements.

The MP also demanded the creation of a new tourist rail line and circuit for Amritsar. He proposed a new rail line from Sultanpur Lodhi to Goindwal and recommended running a DMU train on this route, connecting Sultanpur Sahib, Goindwal, Khadoor Sahib, Tarn Taran, Ramdas, Amritsar and Dera Baba Nanak. A separate circuit, he suggested, should link Beas, Kadia and Amritsar.

Aujla said such a network would boost religious tourism and greatly benefit students, farmers, labourers and daily travellers. He added that Amritsar has witnessed a significant decline in tourism in recent years due to the pandemic and other challenges, making it essential to develop the city as a medical hub and strengthen railway-based travel to ensure sustained growth.