Electrification of rly tracks in the pipeline

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 7

The recently-released Union Budget has a number of plans for the electrification of railway tracks, including that of Verka-Dera Baba Nanak and Tarn Taran-Patti-Khemkaran. Besides, there’s a plan for doubling the track between Amritsar and Chheharta at the cost of Rs 28.68 crore.

The Railways will spend Rs 175 crore on foot overbridges and raise the platforms to a higher level in the state. Upgrade of stations with investment of Rs 40 crore and lifts and escalators for Rs 50 crore is also in the pipeline.

The railway electrification project includes 301-km Bathinda-Ferozepur-Jalandhar City, including Lohian Khas-Nakodar-Phillaur and Nakodar-Jalandhar, that will cost the government Rs 223.93 crore.

The 339-km Ludhiana-Firozpur City-Hussainiwala, including Ferozepur City-Fazilka-Abohar and Kotkapura-Fazilka, will be electrified at the cost of Rs 235.08 crore.

The 74-km Phagwara-Nawashahar Doaba-Jajon Doaba, including Nawashahar-Rahon, will be electrified for Rs 56.89 crore. The 38.4-km Jalandhar City-Hoshiarpur track will be electrified at the cost of Rs 31.81 crore.

The 45 kms stretch of Verka-Dera Baba Nanak and 54.4-km Tarn Taran-Patti-Khemkaran stretch will be electrified Rs 33.38 crore and Rs 41.79 crore, respectively.

Besides, Rs 11.35 crore and Rs 116.75 crore has been sanctioned for the 19-km Batala-Quadian and 125-km Bathinda-Abohar-Sriganga Nagar stretches, respectively.