The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for doubling of Rajpura-Bhatinda railway line at an estimated cost of Rs.1,251.25 crore and expected completion cost of Rs.1,465.59 crore.

The 172.64 km long railway line is expected to be completed in five years.

The present utilization of this section is nearly 100%. Enhancement of capacity of power plants and planned freight terminals will generate additional freight traffic on this route. The doubling will ease the traffic bottlenecks and will bring more revenue to Indian Railways by capacity enhancement of the route. The districts of Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala and Bathinda would also be benefitted through this project.

Background:

The Rajpura-Bathinda section falls in Ambala Division of Northern Railway. At present traffic utilization of the section is nearing saturation. This line is strategically important as several military specials are routed on this line connecting the Western border. The main objective for doubling between Rajpura-Bathinda is to remove capacity constraint and to cater for future growth of traffic on the important route of Indian Railways.

Source Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)21-December, 2016