Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal writes to Minister for Railways regarding rail budget (2014-15)

Ludhiana, July 2, 2014: Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal president Amrit Lal Jain has sent certain proposals for rail budget (2014-15) to D.V Sadananda Gowda, Minister of Railways.
According to the Mandal’s state general secretary Sunil Mehra and secretary Mohinder Aggarwal, it has been stated in the representation that “since last 67 years Railways is not able to connect direct rail link between Amritsar and Ferozepur. Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal a premier organisation of the traders of the Punjab since 1939 is looking after the interest of trade, industry and citizens of Punjab.
The then Minister for Railways Pawan Kumar Bansal while presenting railway budget on 25th February, 2013 announced a direct rail link will be established between Amritsar and Ferozepur and he said a railway track of 25.47 km will be laid between Makhu-Patti rail stretch. An amount of Rs.150 crore was also kept for this purpose.”
Citing benefits of the same, the representation reads that there will be a direct rail link between Amritsar and Ferozpur and the distance between Amritsar and Ferozpur would reduce from 196 km to 82 km.
The Rail Line will shorten the distance between Amritsar to Mumbai by 240 km besides connecting the region with Rajasthan. Two Important region of Punjab Majha and Malwa will be connected and  even the distance between Jammu & Mumbai will reduce 267 km. The Railway will built two bridges on Hari-ke-Patan and track of 25.47 km will be laid down resulting direct rail link between Amritsar and Ferozepur.
Anendar Kumar Chairman Railway Board announced on 14 dec 2013 on his visit at Amritsar railway station that the work on this project will be started shortly. This route will boost tourism, trade & industry and export/import to Mumbai\Kandla port would be much easier and this belt which is rice growing and malwa belt known from its cotton will get a boost for export of these items. Amritsar being a very historical and religious place having Golden Temple and Durgiana Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and Indo-Pak Retreat at Attari Wagha border attracts more than 80 thousand tourist per day and also go to visit Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine from Amritsar to pay their obeisance. Amritsar-Ferozpur rail link will prove a second defence line for the country.
The mandal has urged Gowda to announce in current fiscal’s railway budget a time bound period for the completion of this direct rail link between Amritsar and Ferozepur.