Upgrade of historic Pathankot-Jogindernagar railway line enters survey stage

A major push to tourism and connectivity in the Kangra valley could be on the cards, with fieldwork for the proposed widening of the Pathankot-Jogindernagar railway line now under way. The Indian Railways-appointed consultancy has begun surveys for the Detailed Project Report (DPR), taking the long-awaited broad-gauge upgrade a step closer to reality.

The ongoing traffic study is an integral component of the Final Location Survey (FLS) and the DPR authorised by the Railway Board. To ensure an exhaustive technical and financial assessment, the Northern Railway has outsourced the task to a private consultancy firm, M/s LN Malviya Infra Projects Private Limited.

Specialised survey teams have been deployed across the 200-km corridor, which stretches from Pathankot in Punjab to Jogindernagar in Himachal Pradesh. The teams are gathering ground-level data on population density and local travel patterns, current and future freight demand, tourism potential and industrial activity. The findings will be used to calculate the Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) and Financial Internal Rate of Return (FIRR), which will ultimately help determine the project’s economic and financial viability.

Railway planners emphasise that the upgraded broad-gauge line will seamlessly integrate Himachal Pradesh with the national rail network. Beyond its strategic value, the project is expected to transform regional transportation, accelerate freight movement and provide a major boost to local tourism.

The marking of land has generated considerable interest among local residents, particularly those whose properties may fall within the proposed acquisition corridor. Railway officials are expected to complete detailed surveys and consultations soon before finalising the alignment and land acquisition plans.

Once completed, the project is expected to modernise rail connectivity in the region while preserving the historic narrow-gauge line, which has served the hill state for nearly a century.

Sources said the existing narrow-gauge railway track is likely to remain intact, while the new broad-gauge line will be laid on newly acquired land running alongside the present alignment wherever feasible. This approach is expected to minimise disruption to the heritage railway service during the construction phase.

The Pathankot-Jogindernagar railway line, a historic narrow-gauge route serving the Kangra valley, has long been considered inadequate to meet the growing transportation needs of the region. The proposed upgrade is expected to enhance connectivity, improve passenger and freight movement, and contribute to the economic development of Kangra and Mandi districts.