Union minister of state for railways Ravneet Singh Bittu wrote to Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann seeking intervention to resolve issues at state level that are delaying a number of railway infrastructure projects across the state. The minister requested immediate action from district authorities and departments to clear bottlenecks so that construction can commence without further avoidable delay. He framed the matter as one of national and regional importance, linking timely execution to broader development goals.

Bittu set out that the projects are intended to strengthen rail connectivity, support industrial development, improve passenger and freight movement and accelerate economic growth in Punjab. He attributed the majority of delays to pending land acquisition, statutory clearances and administrative approvals at the state level, and urged that these matters be treated as highest priority by relevant agencies. The minister indicated that streamlined coordination would reduce execution time for many schemes.

Among the projects highlighted was the Ferozepur–Patti new rail line of 25.72 km, which requires acquisition of 165.69 hectares in Ferozepur and Tarn Taran districts. The railways ministry had deposited the entire land acquisition amount of Rs 1941.1 mn with the Punjab government in December 2025, but possession of the acquired land had not been handed over and construction could not begin. The Rajpura–Mohali new rail line of 18.11 km was noted to be delayed owing to pending acquisition in Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib and Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar districts.

On the Nangal Dam–Talwara–Mukerian new rail line Bittu recorded that stage II forest clearance had been secured for two proposals while final approval for a remaining proposal awaited clearance of an integrated wildlife mitigation plan by the chief wildlife warden. The Raman Mandi–Sadda Singhwala link, forming part of the Mansa–Bathinda doubling, was recorded to require acquisition of 192.42 hectares in the two districts.

The minister further drew attention to delays affecting several road overbridge and limited height subway projects across districts including Ludhiana, Fazilka, Sangrur, Hoshiarpur, Mohali, Bathinda, Jalandhar and Pathankot due to pending land, delayed no objection certificates, road closure approvals and traffic diversion permissions. He asked for immediate directions to expedite clearances so that the projects can deliver improved connectivity, enhanced logistics, greater road safety and long term socio-economic benefits including employment generation.