Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, a major railway milestone has been achieved in Punjab with the sanctioning of the long-awaited Rajpura-Mohali rail line. The announcement was made by Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, alongside Shri Ravneet Singh Bittu, Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries, fulfilling a demand over 50 years in the making.The new 18 km railway line, estimated to cost Rs 4.43 billion, will directly connect the Malwa region with the state capital, Chandigarh. Previously, trains from Ludhiana had to travel via Ambala, adding distance and time. The direct connection will reduce travel by approximately 66 km and enhance connectivity for all 13 districts of the Malwa region, easing congestion on existing routes.Economic and Social BenefitsThe project is expected to boost key sectors such as textiles, manufacturing, and agriculture, enabling faster movement of produce, reducing transportation costs for industries like Rajpura Thermal Power Plant, and improving access for pilgrims and tourists to sites including Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib, Shaikh Ahmad al-Faruqi al-Sirhindi Shrine, Haveli Todar Mal, and Sanghol Museum.A new Vande Bharat Express is also proposed along the route Firozpur Cantt → Bhatinda → Patiala → Delhi, operating six days a week (excluding Wednesday) with a journey time of 6 hours 40 minutes covering 486 km.Record Railway Investment in PunjabRailway investment has increased dramatically, from an annual average of Rs 2.25 billion in 2009-14 to Rs 54.21 billion in 2025-26, representing a 24-fold rise. Major achievements since 2014 include:382 km of new tracks constructed1,634 km electrified, making Punjab 100 per cent electrified409 rail flyovers and underbridges builtOngoing ProjectsCurrent projects in Punjab include a Rs 250 billion railway development programme, nine new track projects covering 714 km worth Rs 219.26 billion, 30 Amrit stations under development at Rs 11.22 billion, and 88 ROB/RUB flyovers/underpasses valued at Rs 12.38 billion. The Firozpur-Patti rail line will enhance connectivity between border districts and Gujarat ports, creating an economic corridor that reduces logistics costs.Festival Season PreparationsShri Vaishnaw also highlighted preparations for the festival season, with 12,000 special trains planned for Chhath and Diwali, compared to 7,724 last year. Over 10,000 trips have already been notified, including 150 unreserved trains ready for rapid deployment, with 50 additional services to follow.Service Quality ImprovementsRailway operations have shown notable improvement, with over 90 per cent punctuality achieved in 29 of 70 divisions, and some divisions exceeding 98 per cent punctuality. These gains reflect enhanced infrastructure, planning, and smoother operations across the network.