Vinod Bhat
NEW DELHI: A major railway investment across Punjab and Himachal Pradesh is steadily reshaping North India’s connectivity network, with new lines expected to strengthen passenger movement, freight transportation, tourism and trade while creating stronger links towards Jammu and Kashmir.
At the centre of the expansion is the newly inaugurated 10.5-kilometre Daulatpur Chowk–Kartoli railway section, constructed at an estimated cost of ₹830 crore. The section forms an important part of the Nangal Dam–Talwara–Mukerian New Railway Line Project, aimed at improving rail connectivity between Himachal Pradesh and Punjab and eventually linking the network with the Jalandhar–Jammu route.
The investment is significant not only for the two states but for the wider North Indian railway network, as the emerging corridor is expected to improve access between industrial, agricultural, religious and tourism centres.
The 60-kilometre Nangal Dam–Daulatpur Chowk section has already been commissioned, while construction on the remaining portion towards Mukerian is progressing. The Talwara–Mukerian section covers around 28.7 kilometres, with approximately 70 per cent of major bridge work completed and 29 of 40 road-under-bridges already constructed, according to the Ministry of Railways.
The project is expected to make movement between Himachal Pradesh and Punjab faster and more reliable while strengthening connections towards Jammu and Kashmir. Once the entire corridor is completed, it could provide an important additional rail link for the movement of passengers and freight across the region.
The development comes amid another major railway expansion in Punjab. The Centre has sanctioned the 18-kilometre Rajpura–Mohali new railway line at a cost of ₹443 crore. The project will directly connect the Malwa region with Chandigarh, bypassing Ambala and reducing the existing rail distance by around 66 kilometres. Land acquisition for the project has already begun.
Together, the projects reflect the growing emphasis on building a more interconnected railway grid across North India.
The expansion has implications well beyond passenger travel. Better rail connectivity can reduce transportation costs, improve access to markets and facilitate the movement of agricultural produce, industrial goods, construction material and other freight. For tourism-dependent regions such as Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, improved rail access can also make destinations more accessible to visitors.
The transformation has already become visible in Jammu and Kashmir.
On June 6, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 272-kilometre Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link, completing the long-awaited railway connection between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country. The project included the inauguration of the Chenab and Anji Khad railway bridges and marked a major breakthrough for all-weather rail connectivity to the Valley.
The inauguration also saw the flagging off of the first Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express services, providing a faster connection between Jammu and Kashmir. The service received a strong response from passengers and, in 2026, was expanded from eight to 20 coaches because of sustained demand. The Vande Bharat service has since been extended to Jammu Tawi, further strengthening the rail link between the Valley and the wider national network.
For residents, traders and tourism operators, the railway breakthrough has been welcomed as a major change in connectivity. The completion of the railway link means Kashmir is no longer dependent solely on road connectivity for access to the rest of the country, particularly during periods when the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is affected by landslides, shooting stones or extreme weather.
The railway has also begun directly supporting Kashmir’s horticulture economy.
In June 2025, Indian Railways carried 24 tonnes of Kashmir cherries to Mumbai by train for the first time. The consignment reached Mumbai in around 33 hours, compared with the six to seven days previously required by road, while officials said transportation costs could be reduced by about 75 per cent. The initiative was welcomed by growers and railway officials as a major opportunity for Kashmir’s horticulture sector.
The breakthrough was followed by another major development in September 2025, when the first dedicated parcel train carrying Kashmir apples from Budgam to New Delhi was flagged off. The service was introduced to provide growers with a faster and more reliable way of reaching major markets and to reduce dependence on road transportation during the apple season.
These initiatives have given the railway expansion an economic dimension. Kashmir’s apples, cherries and other horticultural products can now be moved by rail towards major consumption centres, potentially reducing transit time, logistics costs and losses caused by delays.
The connectivity push is also advancing deeper into Himachal Pradesh.
The Centre has highlighted progress on the 63-kilometre Bhanupalli–Bilaspur–Beri railway line and the 33-kilometre Chandigarh–Baddi railway line, while the proposed 489-kilometre Bilaspur–Manali–Leh strategic railway line represents a much larger long-term expansion of the railway network in the Himalayan region.
The investment in Punjab further demonstrates the scale of the wider railway push. According to the Railways, Punjab’s annual average railway budget allocation increased from ₹225 crore during 2009–14 to ₹5,673 crore in 2026–27, while ongoing railway projects in the state are valued at approximately ₹26,382 crore.
The Daulatpur Chowk–Kartoli project, with its ₹830-crore investment, is therefore part of a much larger effort to modernise and expand railway infrastructure across North India.
For businesses and communities, the benefits could extend from improved passenger services to more efficient supply chains. Agricultural producers could gain faster access to markets, industries could benefit from improved freight movement and tourism destinations could become easier to reach.
For Jammu and Kashmir, stronger rail connectivity towards Punjab and Jammu could be particularly valuable for the movement of apples, cherries, vegetables, essential commodities and other goods, especially during periods when highway disruptions affect road transportation.
The railway push is consequently emerging as more than a series of individual infrastructure projects. From Punjab’s industrial and agricultural centres to Himachal Pradesh’s mountain districts and Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism and horticulture economy, the expanding network is gradually bringing previously less-connected regions closer to major markets and cities.
With continued investment in new lines, bridges, stations and freight infrastructure, Indian Railways is steadily building a more integrated North Indian transport network—one that could strengthen trade, tourism, horticulture, regional development and economic connectivity across Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and the wider Himalayan region.
