New Delhi: The Centre has approved a detailed estimate of ₹1,419.05 crore for the proposed 39.68-km Qadian-Beas broad-gauge railway line in Punjab, former Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu said on Sunday.
The railway project will connect Qadian in Gurdaspur district with Beas in Amritsar district, providing a new rail link in the Majha region. Bittu described the approval as a major step towards reviving a project that had remained pending for several years.
Qadian-Beas Rail Link Gets ₹1,419-Crore Estimate
The proposed railway corridor will be constructed as a broad-gauge line spanning 39.68 km. According to Bittu, the Centre’s approval of the detailed estimate marks a significant step towards taking the project forward.
He credited the Union Government and the Railway Ministry with moving the long-pending proposal ahead.
“I personally pursued this long-pending project and ensured that the Qadian-Beas line, which remained stuck for years, was defrozen and brought back into active consideration,” Bittu said.
Land Acquisition Emerges as Immediate Priority
With the railway estimate approved, Bittu said the focus should now shift to completing land acquisition and other state-level formalities.
He claimed that funds for land acquisition are already available with the respective district administrations.
Key points:
- Around ₹3,725 crore is available with the respective deputy commissioners for land acquisition, according to Bittu.
- Land for the project has reportedly been identified and demarcation carried out.
- Bittu urged the Punjab Government to expedite pending acquisition-related processes.
- He asked the Chief Secretary, Deputy Commissioners and SDMs concerned to take up the matter on priority.
“When the funds are available, the land has been identified, and demarcation has already been carried out, there is absolutely no reason for files to remain pending in government offices,” Bittu said.
Bittu Seeks Faster Action from Punjab Government
Bittu also said he had written to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on multiple occasions regarding railway projects and the need to accelerate land acquisition and other formalities.
He said his latest communication, dated July 23, specifically sought immediate action on the Qadian-Beas project and related procedures.
“The Centre and the Railways have done their job. The issue is now one of administrative will and execution, rather than availability of funds,” Bittu said.
The next stage of the project will depend on completing the required land acquisition and other formalities before construction activity can proceed.
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