After launching the Ferozepur-Delhi Vande Bharat Express, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will now focus on modernizing 30 railway stations in Punjab under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.

Punjab Among Top States in Station Redevelopment

Officials from the Ministry of Railways confirmed that Punjab is one of the few states with 30 stations approved for redevelopment. The Amrit Bharat Scheme, started in 2022, aims to turn 1,300 railway stations across India into modern, passenger-friendly transport hubs.

Stations Selected for Upgrade

The Punjab stations chosen for redevelopment include Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Bathinda, Ferozepur Cantt, Pathankot, SAS Nagar, Rupnagar, Anandpur Sahib, Kapurthala, and others. Each will receive improved facilities, better connectivity, and upgraded platforms.

Major Boost to Rail Budget

Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu stated that the rail budget for Punjab has grown significantly. He said,

“The annual rail budget has increased 24 times, from ₹225 crore in 2009 to ₹5,421 crore in 2025-26.”

He added that 382 km of new tracks have been laid and 409 bridges and underpasses have been built to improve connectivity.

Key Rail Projects in Progress

Punjab also has seven major railway projects currently under construction. These include:

• Nangal Dam–Talwara new line

• Bhanupalli–Bilaspur–Beri new line

• Ferozepur–Patti new line

• Mansa–Bathinda doubling

• Ludhiana–Kila Raipur, Ludhiana–Mullanpur, and Alal–Himmatana doubling projects

These projects aim to enhance train operations and support faster regional travel.

Vande Bharat: A Game-Changer for Punjab

The newly launched Ferozepur-Delhi Vande Bharat Express will revolutionize travel for people in the Malwa region. The semi-high-speed train connects Ferozepur, Faridkot, Bathinda, Dhuri, Patiala, Ambala Cantt, Kurukshetra, Panipat, and Delhi.

It will operate six days a week (except Wednesday), covering 486 km in just 6 hours and 35 minutes. The train will leave Ferozepur at 7:55 AM and reach Delhi by 2:35 PM, returning the same day at 4:00 PM, with arrival in Ferozepur by 10:35 PM.

More Vande Bharat Routes to Launch

Along with this train, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate three other Vande Bharat routes — Varanasi–Khajuraho, Lucknow Junction–Saharanpur, and KSR Bengaluru–Ernakulam — expanding India’s high-speed train network further.