Historic Qadian–Beas Railway Line Project Revived After Nearly a Century

In a major infrastructure boost for Punjab’s Majha region, the Government of India has revived the long-pending Qadian–Beas Railway Line Project, nearly 100 years after it was first conceived. The project will establish a 39.68-kilometre broad-gauge railway corridor connecting Qadian in Gurdaspur district with Beas in Amritsar district at an estimated cost of around ₹1,400 crore.

Announcing the development, Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries, Shri Ravneet Singh Bittu, thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw for their continued support in strengthening Punjab’s railway infrastructure.

The new railway line will be executed by Northern Railway and will pass through key towns and villages including Qadian, Dhapai, Ghuman, Butala, Sathiala and Beas. The project is expected to significantly improve transportation, connectivity and accessibility across the Majha belt.

The proposed corridor will feature modern railway infrastructure, including two crossing stations at Ghuman and Butala, 11 major bridges, 121 minor bridges, 54 Road Under Bridges (RUBs), advanced signalling and telecommunication systems, and the deployment of Kavach, India’s indigenous train collision avoidance system.

The origins of the Qadian–Beas railway link date back to 1928–29, when it was approved by the then North-Western Railway during the British era. Although construction had progressed substantially by the early 1930s, the project was later discontinued. It was revived under the Socially Desirable Rail Connectivity Programme and included in the supplementary Railway Budget of 2010–11. Following years of delays, the project has now been revived with a revised estimated cost of approximately ₹1,400 crore.

Apart from enhancing regional connectivity, the railway line will serve as an alternative route to the important Amritsar–Pathankot rail section during emergencies, strengthening the resilience of railway operations in northern India.

The project is expected to generate significant economic benefits by improving market access for farmers, facilitating faster transportation of agricultural produce, promoting trade and small-scale industries, creating employment opportunities, and attracting new investments across the region.

It will also improve access to several prominent religious and spiritual destinations, including Qadian, Dera Baba Jaimal Singh in Beas, Sri Darbar Sahib, Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdwara Achal Sahib, Gurdwara Bhagat Namdev Ji in Ghuman, Gurdwara Sahib Patshahi Panjavi, Burj Sahib, Gurdwara Baba Raja Ram Ji, Pandori Dham, Ram Sharnam Temple and Shirdi Sai Temple in Gurdaspur. Enhanced connectivity is expected to boost religious tourism and make travel easier for pilgrims and visitors from across India and abroad.

Congratulating the people of Qadian, Beas, Ghuman, Butala, Sathiala and the wider Majha region, Shri Ravneet Singh Bittu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to securing all necessary approvals and ensuring the timely implementation of this landmark project.

Source :PIB