Ferozepur-Patti rail link to cut cost, boost trade

The Ferozepur-Amritsar rail link was disrupted during Partition when Punjab was divided, leaving a portion from Ganda Singh Wala (now in Pakistan’s Kasur district) to Khemkaran outside India.

Currently, around 20,000 containers of basmati rice worth Rs 6,000 crore are exported from Amritsar via Kandla port in Gujarat. Exporters prefer trucking these goods because it saves about Rs 5,000 per 24-tonne truckload compared to rail transport. Rice exporter Raman Garg said the new rail link would encourage exporters to switch to freight trains due to lower costs.

Local businessman Satinderjit Singh said it would connect Srinagar, Udhampur, Jammu, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilka, extending onwards to Mumbai through Sriganganagar. The faster route will allow perishable fruits and vegetables to be dispatched to Mumbai and beyond within 2-3 days.

Sanjeev Kumar, DRM of the Ferozepur division, said the rail link would boost trade and industrial growth, reduce freight transportation costs, and improve access to agricultural markets. This, in turn, is expected to increase investment in education, healthcare and essential infrastructure.