Railways releases Rs120 crore for track electrification

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 25

The Railways has released Rs 120 crore to electrify the Amritsar-Pathankot and Amritsar-Tarn Taran-Beas-Goindwal tracks.

The survey for the electrification of the rail routes in small peripheral towns around the city, including Dera Baba Nanak, Patti, Tarn Taran and Attari has already commenced. The entire 950-km track will be electrified.

The Railways has also started the electrification work of tracks between Amritsar and Pathankot.

Amritsar Railway Station Officiating Director Amrit Singh said the Railways had set an ambitious target of achieving 20,000 km electrification per year. As part of this, 100-km rail track between Amritsar and Pathankot will be electrified in two years. This rail route further leads to Jammu and Kashmir which is already electrified. He added that Rs 70 crore had been released for the project. A complete electrification of the rail network would provide uniform operation, reduce noise and air pollution besides improving the rail traffic.

Rs 50 crore has been released for the electrification of the Amritsar-Tarn Taran-Beas-Goindwal stretch.

The proposed electrification will pave the way for the development of Bhagtanwala and Chheharta into satellite railway stations to decongest the Amritsar station.

Considering the scope of bilateral trade between India and Pakistan, the railway will double the rail track between Amritsar and Attari.