Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal seeks rail link between Makhu and Patti

Amritsar/Ludhiana, April 4, 2015: Amrit Lal Jain, State President, Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal has written to Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Minister of Railways, regarding Makhu-Patti rail link. Jain apprised the minister, stating that since last 67 years Railways is not able to connect direct rail link between Amritsar and Ferozepur. Pawan Kumar Bansal as Railways Minister while presenting his railway budget on 25 February 2013 had announced that a direct rail link would be established between Amritsar and Ferozepur and he had said a railway track of 25.47 km would be laid between Makhu-Patti in Ferozepur Division.

Citing benefits of the same, he highlighted that a direct rail link between Amritsar and Ferozepur would reduce the distance from 196 km to 82 km only. It will cut distance between Amritsar and Mumbai by 240 kms besides connecting this region with Rajasthan and Gujarat. Two important regions of Punjab Majha and Malwa will be directly connected. Moreover the distance between Jammu and Mumbai will be reduce by 267 km. The Railway will have to build two bridges on Harike Pattan and a track of 25.47 km will be laid down resulting direct rail link as mentioned above. This rail link is very cruisal for the development of border areas of four States.

Further, he pointed out that Anendar Kumar, Chairman, Railway Board had announced on 14th December 2013 on his visit at Amritsar railway station that the work on this project would be started shortly, but no progress is made. 

If this track Makhu-Patti is laid, it will boost tourism, trade, industry and export/import to Mumbai both ways and Kandla would be much easier to reach as this belt which is rice growing and Malwa belt known from its cotton will get boost  for export of these items. Amritsar being a very historical and religious place having Sri Darbar Sahib, Shri Durgiana Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and Indo-Pak Border at Attari Wagha Border. All these religious and historical places attracts more than 80000 tourist per day in Amritsar to pay their obeisance at religious and historical places. He added Amritsar-Ferozepur rail link will prove second defense line for the country.

He requested the minister to order for start of Makhu-Patti rail link at the earliest.

He said at present Amritsar has only one fastest Train (Shatabdi Express) to reach New Delhi in 5.45 hours. It remains crowded and people did not get tickets for a numbers of days. He requested the minister to start another train between Amritsar and New Delhi and return the same train on that date along with fully AC Chair car with pantry to cope with the rush.

He also requested to start one Jan-shatabdi train between Amritsar and Katra to reach Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine as not only the citizens of Amritsar but thousands of tourists who go to pay their obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine from Amritsar will benefit.