Chandigarh, August 16, 2026: Former Union Minister of State for Railways and BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu has welcomed the sanction of the Detailed Estimate of ₹1,419.05 crore for the 39.68-km Qadian–Beas New Broad Gauge Railway Line, describing it as a major milestone for Punjab and a historic development for the Majha region.

Bittu expressed his gratitude to Hon Prime Minister of India Sh Narendra Modi ji and Union Minister for Railways Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and the Railway Board for taking forward the long-pending project and said the sanction marks a major breakthrough after years of efforts to revive and defreeze the railway line.

“I personally pursued this long-pending project and ensured that the Qadian–Beas line, which had remained stuck for years, was defrozen and brought back into active consideration,” Bittu said.

From a ₹205-crore project to a ₹1,419-crore sanctioned project

Bittu said the history of the Qadian–Beas railway project makes the latest sanction particularly significant.

The project was originally approved during 1928–29, when construction had made substantial progress before being discontinued in the early 1930s. It was subsequently revived under the Socially Desirable Rail Connectivity Programme and included in the Supplementary Railway Budget of 2010–11 as a socially desirable new-line project, with an estimated cost of approximately ₹205 crore at that time.

Despite the sanction, the project remained stalled for years due to technical, alignment, land acquisition and procedural issues.

“During my tenure, I repeatedly took up the matter with the Railway Ministry and Railway officials and pushed for the defreezing of the project so that this long-pending rail link could once again move towards implementation,” Bittu said.

In June 2026, the Government of India formally announced the revival of the 39.68-km Qadian–Beas line at an estimated cost of around ₹1,400 crore. The latest Railway Board sanction has now placed the Detailed Estimate at ₹1400 crores.
Major connectivity boost for Qadian, Gurdaspur, Batala and Beas

The proposed railway line will connect Qadian in Gurdaspur district with Beas in Amritsar district through a 39.68-km broad-gauge corridor.

The alignment will pass through Qadian, Dhapai, Ghuman, Butala, Sathiala and Beas, bringing several previously underserved areas of the Majha region onto the railway network.

Bittu said the benefits of the project will extend well beyond the immediate alignment.

“Gurdaspur and Batala will gain substantially from improved access to the railway network through the Qadian corridor, while Beas will provide an important connectivity point towards the wider railway network. This will make movement of people, agricultural produce, traders, students and pilgrims easier and more efficient and will strengthen economic linkages between towns and villages of the Majha region,” he said.

The project includes crossing stations at Ghuman and Butala, 11 major bridges, 121 minor bridges, 54 Road Under Bridges, modern signalling and telecommunication systems and Kavach technology.

166.682 hectares of land to be acquired in Gurdaspur and Amritsar

Bittu said the immediate priority must now be land acquisition, so that the railway construction can move ahead without further administrative delays.

According to the project land-acquisition details, a total of 166.682 hectares of land is required in Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts.

The land requirement is:

* Gurdaspur district — 95.459 hectares
* Shri Hargobindpur Tehsil/Sub-Tehsil — SDM Batala
* Qadian — SDM Batala
* Kahnuwan — SDM Gurdaspur
* Amritsar district — 71.223 hectares
* Baba Bakala — SDM Baba Bakala

Total land requirement: 166.682 hectares.

₹3,725 crore lying with DCs — why is land acquisition still delayed?

Bittu said the Punjab Government cannot cite lack of funds as an excuse for delaying land acquisition.

“The money is already available. Up to ₹3,725 crore is lying with the respective Deputy Commissioners for land acquisition. When the funds are available and the land has already been demarcated, what is stopping the Punjab Government from completing the acquisition process?” Bittu asked.

He said the issue is now one of administrative will and execution, rather than availability of funds.

“The Centre and the Railways have done their job. The funds are available with the respective Deputy Commissioners, the land has been identified and demarcation has already been carried out. There is absolutely no reason for files to remain pending in government offices,” he said.

Bittu gives stern warning to Chief Secretary, DCs and SDMs

Bittu issued a stern warning to the Punjab Chief Secretary, the concerned Deputy Commissioners and SDMs, asking them to immediately accelerate every stage of the land acquisition process.

“I am giving a clear and stern warning to the Chief Secretary, the concerned Deputy Commissioners and the SDMs: speed up the land acquisition process immediately. The money is lying with you. The land has been identified. The demarcation has already been done. Do not allow bureaucratic delays to hold up a project of such importance to Punjab.”

Bittu said that the officers concerned must personally monitor the process and ensure that there is no unnecessary movement of files from one office to another.

“The officers responsible for land acquisition must now act, not merely hold meetings and move files. Every day of delay is delaying a railway project for which the people of the punjab have waited for decades,” he said.

“If funds worth thousands of crores are already lying with the respective DCs, then there is no justification whatsoever for saying that land acquisition cannot proceed. The Chief Secretary must personally review the matter, and the concerned DCs and SDMs must complete the process within the shortest possible time,” Bittu said.

Several letters to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, no response

Bittu said he has repeatedly written to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann regarding the all the ongoing railway projects and the need to expedite land acquisition and other state-level formalities, but has received no response.

“I have written to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann several times on this issue. My last letter was written on 23 July 2026, specifically urging the State Government to take immediate steps on land acquisition and related formalities. There has been no response so far,” Bittu said.

He said the Chief Minister should now intervene personally and direct the Chief Secretary and district administration to complete the process on priority.

“I want the Chief Minister to answer why, despite the funds being available with the respective Deputy Commissioners, the land acquisition process is still moving at such a slow pace. Punjab cannot afford another bureaucratic delay in a project of this importance,” he said.

Bittu said the people of Qadian, Gurdaspur, Batala, Ghuman, Butala, Sathiala and Beas have waited for decades for this railway connectivity.

Strategic and economic importance

Bittu said the Qadian–Beas railway line has importance far beyond passenger connectivity.

The line will provide an alternative rail corridor to the Amritsar–Pathankot section during emergencies, thereby strengthening the resilience of the railway network in northern India.

The project is also expected to improve market access for farmers, facilitate transportation of agricultural produce, promote trade and small industries, generate employment and encourage investment across the Majha region.

Important for Qadian and religious tourism

Bittu specifically highlighted the importance of the project for Qadian, which has immense historical and international significance as the birthplace of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

“Better railway connectivity has been a long-standing demand of the Ahmadiyya community and the residents of Qadian. This railway line will make Qadian considerably more accessible to visitors and pilgrims from India and abroad,” he said.

Improved connectivity will also benefit access to important religious and spiritual destinations in the wider region, including Beas, Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdwara Achal Sahib, Gurdwara Bhagat Namdev Ji at Ghuman and other religious centres across Gurdaspur and the Majha belt.

Bittu said the project can therefore provide a significant boost to religious, heritage and cultural tourism in the region.

“Punjab must not become the reason for another delay”

Bittu said the Railway Ministry has now taken a decisive step by sanctioning the ₹1,419.05-crore Detailed Estimate, and Punjab must reciprocate by completing its responsibilities without delay.

“The Centre has moved forward. The Railways have moved forward. The funds are available. The land has been identified. Now Punjab has to move forward. There is no excuse left for further delay.”

He reiterated his gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw for their continued focus on strengthening railway infrastructure in Punjab.

“The sanction of ₹1,419.05 crore is a historic step towards fulfilling a nearly century-old promise to the people of this region. The people have waited long enough. The funds are already available. Now the land acquisition must move at the speed this project deserves,” Bittu said. Translate in Hindi