Four-Lane Doraha Railway Over Bridge to Boost Connectivity in Malwa Region : Ravneet Singh Bittu

Ludhiana (The Uttam Hindu): In a major step toward strengthening connectivity in the Malwa region, construction of a four-lane Railway Over Bridge (ROB) at Level Crossing No. 164AB, Doraha, will commence shortly. Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries Ravneet Singh Bittu shared this information after laying the foundation stone. Senior railway officials, including Divisional Railway Manager, Ambala, Vinod Bhatia, and Chief Engineer (Road Safety Project) Rajeev Ranjan Raju, were present on the occasion.

The Minister stated that the project, being constructed at an estimated cost of ₹70.55 crore, will be completed within one year and opened to the public at the earliest. He noted that for nearly 12 years, commuters had been facing severe inconvenience at this level crossing, and the new ROB will provide lasting relief.

The Doraha level crossing is located on a crucial road connecting Rupnagar to Ludhiana, serving as an important link between Punjab’s capital and the Malwa region. Approximately 190 trains pass through this crossing daily, along with more than 3,000 vehicles. Frequent gate closures due to rail traffic result in traffic congestion, long waiting times, and disruption to trade and transport activities. The ROB will ensure smoother traffic flow and enhance road safety.

Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Railway Minister for approving the project, the Minister described it as a significant gift to the people of the region. He emphasized that the four-lane bridge will not only ease daily commuting but also facilitate uninterrupted movement of goods and services, thereby accelerating economic activities.

Strengthening Railway Infrastructure in Punjab

Providing details of ongoing railway infrastructure development in Punjab, the Minister said that work is underway at 166 locations across the state for Railway Over Bridges (ROB), Railway Under Bridges (RUB), and Low Height Subways (LHS), with a total investment of ₹1,480.09 crore. He asserted that there is no shortage of funds for railway development and that the government remains committed to modernization and expansion of the rail network.

He further informed that Punjab’s annual railway budget allocation has increased nearly 25 times compared to the 2009–2014 period, reaching ₹5,673 crore. Currently, infrastructure projects worth ₹26,382 crore are in progress in the state, including new railway lines, station redevelopment, safety upgrades, and capacity expansion works. Additionally, under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 30 railway stations in Punjab are being comprehensively redeveloped at a cost of ₹1,311 crore to provide modern passenger amenities.

Expansion of Delhi–Ambala Rail Section

The Minister also termed the approval of the third and fourth railway lines between Delhi and Ambala as a historic decision. The 194-kilometre project, estimated at ₹5,983 crore, is part of a broader plan to expand the highly congested Delhi–Jammu rail corridor and will be completed within four years.

The route passes through key districts of Haryana—Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal, Kurukshetra, and Ambala—as well as parts of Delhi. The section currently faces heavy passenger and freight traffic. The additional lines will significantly enhance line capacity, improve operational efficiency, and reduce congestion.

The capacity expansion is expected to enable transportation of an additional 24.6 million tonnes of freight annually, resulting in estimated logistics savings of ₹952 crore per year. The project is also environmentally significant, as it is projected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 430 million kilograms annually—equivalent to planting around 17 million trees. During the construction phase, nearly 13.2 million man-days of employment are likely to be generated.

Improved connectivity will also benefit major religious and tourist destinations such as Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Katra, Srinagar, Jammu, and Shimla, thereby promoting tourism and regional economic growth.