The expansion will drastically improve passenger comfort and reduce travel times for those heading to Chandigarh and Jammu.

Cabinet Clears Rs 5,983 Cr Rail Boost for Delhi-Ambala Corridor to Slash Travel Time to Chandigarh and Jammu  

In a major infrastructure push, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has sanctioned three massive railway projects worth Rs 18,509 crore. A major approval is the construction of 3rd and 4th railway lines on the 194-km Delhi-Ambala corridor, estimated at Rs 5,983 crore.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated on Saturday that the project is a strategic necessity, facilitating faster troop movements from the capital toward Jammu via Sonepat, Panipat, and Kurukshetra. Beyond defence logistics, the expansion will drastically improve passenger comfort and reduce travel times for those heading to Chandigarh and Jammu.

The project is slated for completion within four years and notably requires no major land acquisition. Construction will involve building 29 bridges and upgrading existing structures. Environmentally, the move is expected to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 43 crore kg annually while creating 132 lakh man-days of employment.

This decision was among the final acts performed at the historic South Block office before the PMO and Union Ministries migrated to the newly built Seva Teerth and Kartavya Bhavan. Officials noted that vacating the colonial-era buildings marks a symbolic shift from symbols of the past toward modern, productivity-focused governance. The new lines are expected to alleviate congestion across 12 districts in four states, adding 389 km to the national network.

Source: The Tribune