12-year wait ends as Doraha railway overpass fast-tracked

Doraha: A decade-long infrastructure bottleneck in Punjab is finally being addressed with the accelerated construction of a four-lane railway over bridge (ROB) in Doraha. The Rs 70.55 crore project is positioned as a landmark development, designed to significantly strengthen the link between the Malwa region, Chandigarh, and neighboring districts.For nearly 12 years, the Doraha level crossing has been a point of persistent hardship for commuters. Located on a vital stretch connecting Rupnagar to Ludhiana, the crossing currently manages a staggering volume of 190 trains and over 3,000 vehicles daily. These frequent closures have long stymied the flow of traffic between the state capital and the industrial heartland of Malwa.
Union minister of state for railways, Ravneet Singh Bittu, confirmed that the project will now proceed on a war footing, with a completion target set within the next year. Beyond easing the daily commute, the bridge is expected to serve as an economic catalyst, ensuring the seamless movement of goods and services for traders and transporters who have historically faced long waiting times and congestion.The Doraha project is a single piece of a much larger puzzle. Currently, railway infrastructure works, including ROBs, railway under bridges (RUBs), and low-height subways (LHSs), are underway at 166 locations across the state. This broader initiative represents a total investment of ₹1,480 crore.Additionally, the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is currently redeveloping 30 railway stations across Punjab. With an investment of ₹1,311 crore, these upgrades aim to provide modern passenger amenities and improved facilities, aligning Punjab's rail hubs with international standards.Quadrupling work of Delhi-Ambala line underwayFurthering the reach of northern connectivity, officials highlighted the ongoing construction of the 3rd and 4th railway lines between Delhi and Ambala. This 194 km project is part of a larger mission to quadruple the highly utilised Delhi–Jammu corridor. The corridor, scheduled for completion within four years, spans central, north west, and north Delhi, moving through the Haryana districts of Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal, Kurukshetra, and Ambala. By increasing capacity, the project will improve punctuality for passenger services and provide reliable transport for thermal power plants in Ropar, Panipat, and Rajpura, as well as various agricultural warehouses and industrial hubs.Residents of Doraha and the surrounding region have expressed relief at the formal commencement of the work. For residents who have campaigned for this bridge for over a decade, the project is viewed as a necessary solution to the traffic bottlenecks that have hampered regional growth and daily life.