Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday unveiled a series of rail and road infrastructure projects valued at approximately $637 million during a visit to Jalandhar, Punjab. The initiatives are aimed at improving transportation networks, enhancing passenger facilities, and supporting economic growth across the region.
Among the major announcements was the inauguration of 75 modernized railway stations spread across 20 states under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Redeveloped at an estimated cost of $183 million, the stations now feature upgraded passenger amenities while incorporating architectural elements inspired by local culture, heritage, and regional traditions. Four of these stations are located in Punjab, including Jalandhar Cantonment, S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali), Sri Muktsar Sahib, and Sri Anandpur Sahib.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Daulatpur Chowk-Kartoli rail line, a project valued at approximately $97 million. The new railway corridor forms part of the larger Nangal Dam-Talwara-Mukerian rail project and is expected to strengthen connectivity between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Officials said the line will improve access to districts such as Hoshiarpur and Una while making travel to religious destinations, including Shri Anandpur Sahib and Maa Chintpurni Temple, faster and more convenient.
Further expanding regional rail services, Modi flagged off the Kartoli-Ambala train, which is expected to improve transportation links across Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. He also launched the Amritsar (Chheharta)-Varanasi Sant Ravidas Express, creating a direct rail connection between two important spiritual centers. The service fulfills a long-standing demand of the Ravidassia community ahead of Guru Ravidas’s 650th birth anniversary celebrations in Varanasi.
In addition to railway developments, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for national highway projects worth more than $358 million. These included the opening of a 30.9-kilometer section of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, which is expected to reduce travel time, improve freight movement, lower fuel consumption, and decrease transportation costs.
Modi also laid the foundation stone for the Southern Ludhiana Bypass, a 25.2-kilometer six-lane greenfield highway designed to improve connectivity between Ludhiana and Bathinda while providing smoother access to key commercial hubs.
The Prime Minister arrived in Jalandhar after inaugurating projects in Chandigarh and flagging off India’s first hydrogen-powered train in Haryana. Collectively, the newly launched transportation projects are expected to strengthen regional connectivity, improve travel efficiency, and contribute to Punjab’s long-term economic and infrastructure development.
