New Delhi/Chandigarh, Feb 14: A major infrastructure boost for the northern rail route was finalized as the Union Cabinet approved a Rs 5,983 crore plan to add two additional lines to the 194-km Delhi-Ambala section. The move is part of a broader Rs 18,509 crore railway package intended to modernize the Indian Railways network across 12 districts in four states.
Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the project would serve as a critical link for both civilian and military logistics. “The Delhi to Ambala route is a lifeline for passenger traffic toward Chandigarh and Jammu,” the Minister noted. He also mentioned that the infrastructure upgrade would streamline the movement of troops toward the northern borders via Kurukshetra and Panipat.
The Ministry of Railways expects the project to be finished in a four-year timeframe. Technical requirements for the expansion involve building 29 bridges and upgrading several older units along the route. Beyond infrastructure, the government noted the environmental and economic benefits, citing a massive reduction in carbon footprints and the creation of millions of man-days of work for the region.
The timing of the announcement coincided with a historic shift in government operations, as the Prime Minister’s Office and other departments vacated the British-built North and South Blocks. Officials said the new rail lines would increase the existing network by nearly 389 km across the country. “These proposals are poised to streamline operations and alleviate congestion,” the official cabinet statement said regarding the multi-tracking initiative.
