The Union government has approved a detailed estimate of Rs 14,190.5 million (Rs 14,190.5 mn) for the 39.68 km Qadian-Beas broad gauge railway line in Punjab, and the project was revived in June 2026 at an estimated cost of Rs 14,000 million. The line dates to a British-era scheme approved in 1928-29 and was partially built before work ceased in the early 1930s. Senior BJP leader and former Union minister of state for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu said that he had repeatedly taken up the matter with railway officials and pushed for defreezing so the long-pending link could move towards implementation. He noted the alignment would pass through Qadian, Dhapai, Ghuman, Butala, Sathiala and Beas, bringing several previously underserved areas of the Majha region onto the railway network. He added that benefits would extend beyond the immediate alignment by improving connectivity for Gurdaspur and Batala and by providing Beas with links to the wider network, thereby easing movement of people and goods and strengthening economic linkages between towns and villages. The project scope includes crossing stations at Ghuman and Butala, 11 major bridges, 121 minor bridges, 54 road underbridges, modern signalling and telecommunication systems and Kavach technology. Bittu underlined that land acquisition should now be the immediate priority and urged the state administration to complete the process without delay, arguing that lack of funds could not be cited as a reason for delay. He noted that Rs 37,250 million is available with the respective deputy commissioners for land acquisition and that identified land has already been demarcated, making swift administrative execution the principal remaining requirement. Punjab Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa welcomed the sanction and described it as a landmark development for the Majha region, saying it would boost economic activity, support religious tourism and assist farmers and small industries in accessing markets. He also said the additional route would have strategic importance as an alternative to the Amritsar-Pathankot section during emergencies and recalled pursuing the project since 2010 under the socially desirable projects programme.