Govt: No double track for Bathinda-Ferozepur link

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 17

There is no plan of doubling the 87 km Bathinda to Ferozepur Cantonment rail link, the government specified in response to question by Punjab’s Congress MPs Jasbir Singh Dimpa and Mohammad Sadiq in the Lok Sabha today.

Minister of State for Railways Suresh Channabasappa Angadi said at present the line was working at the capacity of 65 per cent. “Doubling of tracks depends upon the commercial viability and demand from different areas. As of now, it is working on 65 per cent on single line,” he said. Regarding completion of the Patti-Ferozepur link, the minister said it had been two years and the possession of land had not yet been given. “It is a joint venture. The Punjab government has to give land, then only we can proceed further,” the minister said

Meanwhile, Angadi said electrification of existing single line of the Bathinda–Ferozepur sanctioned at a cost of Rs 223.93 crore in September 2018 would be completed by March 2022. With the completion of electrification, section capacity will further increase. Therefore, doubling of Bathinda to Ferozepur was not carried forward. “If industry demands and it is economically viable we will consider it,” he said.