Centre Approves Rs 764 Crore Ferozepur–Patti Rail Link Project: Major Boost for Connectivity, Defence, and Jobs in Punjab

Chandigarh, November 12, 2025: The Ministry of Railways has sanctioned the long-awaited Ferozepur–Patti Rail Link Project, covering a stretch of 25.72 kilometres at an estimated cost of ₹764.19 crore. The project includes ₹166 crore for land acquisition, to be fully borne by the Railways.

Announcing the development at a press briefing, Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries, S. Ravneet Singh Bittu, said the project will have far-reaching economic and strategic benefits for Punjab. Once completed, it will reduce the distance between Ferozepur and Amritsar from 196 km to nearly 100 km, and shorten the Jammu–Ferozepur–Fazilka–Mumbai corridor by about 236 km.

The Ministry of Railways has written to the Chief Secretary of Punjab, urging the state government to expedite land acquisition to ensure early implementation.

Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for what he called a “historic gift to Punjab,” Bittu said the new line will connect the Jalandhar–Ferozepur and Patti–Khemkaran routes. The alignment will run close to the international border, enhancing connectivity between the Malwa and Majha regions.

Highlighting the project’s strategic significance, Bittu noted that the rail line will facilitate the swift movement of defence personnel, logistics, and supplies through areas of national security importance.

Beyond its defence utility, the project promises extensive socio-economic benefits — expected to benefit around 10 lakh people and create nearly 2.5 lakh employment opportunities. The new link will serve an estimated 2,500–3,500 daily passengers, particularly students, employees, and patients from rural areas. It will help spur regional trade, industrial growth, and agricultural transport efficiency, while also driving investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

Bittu emphasized that the rail link will connect Amritsar, a key religious and commercial hub that attracts over one lakh tourists daily, with Ferozepur, thus strengthening Punjab’s regional integration. The project will also revive a historic pre-Partition route, reducing the Ferozepur–Khemkaran distance from 294 km to just 110 km.

Senior railway officials including DRM Ambala Vinod Bhatia, CPM (Construction) Ajai Varshney, CPM (RLDA) Balbir Singh, ADRM Firozpur Nitin Garg, and EDPG (MOSR) Dhananjay Singh were present at the announcement.