Lok Sabha Question No. 665 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-03
Subject: Mohali-Rajpura Railway Project
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 665

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2025

## MOHALI - RAJPURA RAILWAY PROJECT

## 665. DR. RAJ KUMAR CHABBEWAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Government has started land acquisition for  the  Mohali-Rajpura  railway  line  in  Punjab  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has fixed any timeline for completion of the project and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons thereof; and
- (c) the  details  of  the  benefits  likely  to  be  accrued  to  the  people  of Punjab  through  the  operationalisation  of  this  railway  project  in  the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (c):  Rajpura  -  Mohali  new  line  project  (18.11  Km)  has  been sanctioned  recently  at  a  cost  of  Rs.  443.29  crore.  The  process  of  land acquisition  has  already  been  initiated.  The  project  has  been  declared  as special Railway Project. Competent Authority for land Acquisition (CALA) has also been nominated in November 2025.

This project will directly connect  Southern Punjab (Bathinda area), between  Sirhind  -  Gobindgarh  and  Rajpura  area  to  Chandigarh  avoiding Ambala.

Budget  allocation  for  Infrastructure  projects  and  safety  works,  falling fully/partly in the State of Punjab is as under:

| Period   | Outlay                           |
|----------|----------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | ₹225 crore/year                  |
| 2025-26  | ₹ 5,421 Cr. (More than 24 times) |

Fund  allocation  has  increased  manifold.  However,  pace  of  execution  of project is dependent on expeditious land acquisition. Execution of important infrastructure projects falling fully/partly in the State of Punjab is held up due to delay in land acquisition. Support of the Government of Punjab is needed to expedite the land acquisition.

Government of India  is  geared  up  to  execute  projects,  however  success depends upon the support of Government of Punjab. For instance, details of some  major  projects  which  are  delayed  due  to  land  acquisition  are  as under: -

|   SN | Name of the project       |   Total land required (in Ha) |   Land acquired (in Ha) |   Balance Land to be acquired (in Ha) |
|------|---------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------|---------------------------------------|
|    1 | Firozpur-Patti new line   |                           166 |                       0 |                                   166 |
|    2 | Alal-Himmatana Chord line |                            20 |                       0 |                                    20 |

Firozpur-Patti  New  line  (26  km)  situated  fully  in  Punjab  is  an  important project near the international border. Land for project was to be handed over  free  of  cost  for  this  project  by  State  Govt.  of  Punjab.  Total  166  Ha land is to be acquired in the districts of Firozpur and Tarn Taran. Award for entire land has been published in Mar'23. However, disbursement of award has  not  been  done  by  state  govt.  Considering  delay  in  execution  of  this important border area project, Ministry of Railways has decided to take up Firozpur-Patti New line (26 km) through its own funding.

Completion of Railway project/s depends on various factors which include the following:  Land acquisition by State Government  Forest clearance  Shifting of infringing utilities  Statutory clearances from various authorities  Geological and topographical conditions of area  Law and order situation in the area of project site  Number of working months in a year for particular project site etc. All these factors affect the completion time and cost of the project/s.

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