Qadian-Beas railway line revived after nearly 100 years in Punjab

The long-awaited Qadian-Beas railway line in Punjab has been revived nearly a century after it was first proposed. Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu announced on Thursday that the 39.68-km-long rail project, connecting Qadian in Gurdaspur district to Beas in Amritsar district, will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,400 crore.

The project, to be executed by Northern Railway, will traverse key towns and villages, including Qadian, Dhapai, Ghuman, Butala, Sathiala, and Beas. This new rail corridor aims to integrate several areas of Punjab’s Majha region into the railway network, significantly enhancing connectivity and mobility for local communities.

The infrastructure for the Qadian-Beas line will include two crossing stations at Ghuman and Butala, along with 11 major bridges, 121 minor bridges, and 54 Road Under Bridges (RUBs). To ensure safety and efficiency, the broad-gauge corridor will feature modern signalling and telecommunication systems, as well as the Kavach automatic train protection system, developed indigenously.

The origins of the Qadian-Beas railway line date back to the British era, when it was first approved by the North-Western Railway during 1928-29. Construction had progressed significantly by the early 1930s, but shifting priorities and changing circumstances led to its discontinuation. The project was later revived under the Socially Desirable Rail Connectivity Programme and included in the supplementary Railway Budget of 2010, 11. After years of delays, the project has now been greenlit with a revised budget of approximately Rs 1,400 crore.

Once completed, the railway line is expected to improve access to several key religious sites in Punjab, including Qadian, the birthplace of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community; Dera Baba Jaimal Singh in Beas; Sri Darbar Sahib; Dera Baba Nanak; Gurdwara Achal Sahib; Gurdwara Bhagat Namdev Ji in Ghuman; and other prominent spiritual destinations.

Beyond connectivity, the project is anticipated to unlock significant economic opportunities. It will enhance market access for farmers, facilitate efficient transportation, boost trade and small-scale industries, generate employment during construction and operation, and encourage investment across the Majha region.