Explainer: Joining the dots of Rajpura-Mohali rail link

FOR decades, the demand for a direct rail line connecting Punjab’s Malwa region to Chandigarh has not gone beyond parliamentary debates and railway blueprints. The Centre’s sanction to the Rajpura-Mohali rail link ends the wait, but execution of the project will test not only administrative efficiency, but also the resolve of both the Central and state governments.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the Railways to treat the project as part of a broader ‘Punjab rail renaissance’ — a Rs 25,000-crore investment plan across the state.

The link was first conceived in the early decades after Independence. The logic was compelling: connecting Rajpura, the entry point for trains from Bathinda, Patiala, Abohar and other Malwa districts, directly to Mohali, and doing away with the detour through Ambala for reaching Chandigarh. Yet, the project never moved beyond paper.

The long chapter of deferrals ended on September 23, when Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced sanction for the line. “It is a promise kept, fulfilling a demand pending for over 50 years. It will directly benefit Punjab’s farmers, industries, students and pilgrims and open new opportunities. This is truly a gift from the Prime Minister to the people of Punjab,” he told The Tribune.

The Centre will finance the project end-to-end, while Punjab has been tasked with acquiring and handing over land. Officials say the chosen alignment minimises farmland acquisition, reducing potential resistance in a heavily agrarian state.

WHAT THE LINK WILL ACHIEVE

Shorter journeys: By eliminating the Ambala detour, passengers from Malwa will save distance and time in reaching Chandigarh.

Decongesting Rajpura-Ambala section: The existing route is a pressure point for both freight and passenger trains; the new link will ease traffic.

Industrial, agricultural gains: Freight movement for the Rajpura thermal power plant, Patiala industries, and Malwa’s farm produce will become faster and cheaper.

Access: For education, healthcare, and jobs, direct rail connectivity will make Chandigarh more accessible to Malwa residents.

Tourism and pilgrimage: Sites like Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, Sanghol museum, and Haveli Todar Mal will see better connectivity, boosting cultural tourism.

Easing road traffic: Is likely to reduce traffic on the 70-km Patiala-Chandigarh stretch via Zirakpur-Banur highway. At present, thousands of daily commuters rely almost entirely on the highway. By rail, a distance of 66 km will take 45-50 minutes.

NON-STARTER FOR DECADES

The Rajpura-Mohali link has been a non-starter due to a familiar list of hurdles:

Funding constraints: Governments prioritised other routes and larger projects.

Weak projections: Earlier surveys suggested the line would not generate sufficient traffic to justify costs.

Centre-state coordination: Land acquisition in Punjab has historically been fraught with delays, especially when political dispensations differ in Delhi and Chandigarh.

Farmers’ concerns: Land, even in small parcels, is a sensitive issue in Punjab, where agriculture remains central to livelihoods.

BOTTLENECKS AHEAD

Land acquisition: Around 134 acres are required. Compensation and rehabilitation will be politically charged issues.

Clearances: Environmental, utility, and construction approvals often add months, even years, to rail projects.

Execution delays: Tendering, track-laying, and electrification must align with timelines; cost escalations are common if delays occur.

Farmer resistance: Punjab’s unions have been mobilising against land acquisition they deem unfair.

Operational integration: Slotting new services into Northern Railway’s already busy schedule will require careful planning.

CENTRE’S PLAYBOOK

In its post-sanction briefing, the Ministry of Railways outlined its strategy to prevent delays:

Central funding: Ensuring the project does not falter for want of money.

Minimal land intake: Alignment chosen to reduce land acquisition challenges.

Fast-tracking clearances: Commitment to cut red tape at both Central and state levels.

State-Centre cooperation: Direct coordination with Punjab for swift land transfer.

Early operational wins: Initial civil works to begin at the Rajpura end to deliver immediate benefits, like reducing engine reversals.

CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM

For the people of Malwa, the project’s value will only be proven when trains finally run directly to Chandigarh, without the Ambala detour.

“This has been a much-awaited and much-delayed project — better late than never. The Mohali-Rajpura rail link will give a boost to Punjab’s industry by cutting costs and improving connectivity with the state capital. All such development projects and initiatives taken by the Centre for Punjab are welcome, and we hope they are executed on the ground at the earliest for the benefit of our people,” said Sanjeev Arora, Punjab Industries Minister.

Tajinder Bansal, a Mohali-based industrialist, said, “Even a 66-km reduction in freight distance saves hours and costs — it will be transformative for industry.”

Farmer leaders, however, remain guarded. “We will examine compensation and rehabilitation closely. Even 1 acre of farmland matters to us,” said BKU leader Shamsher Singh.

WHAT LIES AHEAD

If all goes according to plan, the line could be operational within two-three years. The immediate next steps:

• Punjab government to acquire and hand over 54 hectares of land.
• Railways to issue tenders for civil works, track-laying, and electrification.
• Clearance processes for environment and utilities to be expedited.
• Northern Railway to integrate the new line into passenger and freight schedules.

But if land acquisition drags or bureaucratic hurdles mount, the project could join a long list of sanctioned-but-stalled rail links.

RAILWAY INVESTMENT

Railway spending in Punjab has seen exponential growth — the annual investment rising from Rs 225 crore (2009-14 average) to Rs 5,421 crore (2025-26). Nine new track projects worth nearly Rs 22,000 crore are under execution, with 30 stations being redeveloped as part of the ‘Amrit Bharat’ scheme.

PROJECT IN NUMBERS

Length: 18 km new line

Cost: Rs 443 crore (fully funded by Centre)

Land required: 54 hectares (134 acres), to be acquired by Punjab government

Time saved: About 66 km cut from Malwa-Chandigarh journey

Districts connected: 13 Malwa districts gain direct access to Chandigarh

Timeline: 2-3 years (subject to land handover and clearances)