PM Modi Unveils ₹5,470-Crore Rail and Road Projects in Punjab, Promises Continued Development Ahead of 2027 Polls
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seen alongside Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon and wearing a turban during the Jalandhar rally on Friday, said that the BJP is committed to making Punjab more developed and self-reliant. He highlighted that although the party has never formed a government on its own in the Sikh-majority state, it remains focused on bringing growth and progress to Punjab. Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu was also present at the event.
Jalandhar, July 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched and laid the foundation stone for rail and road infrastructure projects worth ₹5,470 crore in Punjab, while assuring people that the Centre would continue investing in the state’s development regardless of which party is in power.
Addressing a public rally in Jalandhar after inaugurating the projects, Modi said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remains committed to Punjab’s progress even though it is not part of the state government. He said the Centre’s development efforts would continue without discrimination and promised greater investment, employment opportunities and infrastructure growth for the state.
“Although the BJP is not in power in Punjab, the Central government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the state’s development,” the Prime Minister said. He added that only the BJP could bring lasting transformation to Punjab by creating jobs, attracting fresh investments and helping locally manufactured products reach national and international markets.
The visit is widely being viewed as an important political outreach ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, where the BJP is expected to contest independently following the end of its alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal after the 2020-21 farmers’ protest.
Political Attack on Congress and AAP
During his speech, Modi also launched a sharp attack on both the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress.
Targeting the Congress, he accused the party of being consumed by internal power struggles rather than focusing on Punjab’s welfare. Without naming individuals directly, he referred to the ongoing leadership tussle within the state Congress and claimed that its leaders were more interested in securing positions than addressing public issues.
The Prime Minister was equally critical of the AAP government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and party chief Arvind Kejriwal. Referring to AAP’s repeated claim of being a “kattar imaandar” (staunchly honest) party, Modi remarked that the party’s actions reflected the opposite and described it as a “kattar beimaan” (staunchly dishonest) party.
He also raised concerns over the law and order situation in Punjab, alleging that the current government had failed to ensure public safety.
Massive Push for Railway Infrastructure
A major focus of Modi’s visit was the expansion of railway infrastructure.
As part of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, the Prime Minister inaugurated 75 redeveloped railway stations across 20 states, including four stations in Punjab—Jalandhar Cantonment, SAS Nagar (Mohali), Sri Muktsar Sahib and Sri Anandpur Sahib.
The upgraded stations have been modernised with improved passenger facilities, better accessibility, enhanced waiting areas, digital services and upgraded infrastructure aimed at improving the overall travel experience.
Modi also inaugurated the Daulatpur Chowk-Kartoli rail line, constructed at a cost of around ₹830 crore under the Nangal Dam-Talwara-Mukerian New Rail Line Project.
Officials said the new railway line would significantly improve connectivity between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, benefiting residents of Hoshiarpur and Una districts while making travel easier for pilgrims visiting religious sites such as Sri Anandpur Sahib and the Maa Chintpurni Temple.
The Prime Minister also flagged off the Kartoli-Ambala train service, which is expected to strengthen rail connectivity between Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
Another key announcement was the launch of the Sant Ravidas Express, providing a direct rail link between Amritsar and Varanasi. The service fulfils a long-standing demand of the Ravidassia community and comes ahead of the celebrations marking Guru Ravidas’s 650th Parkash Purab at his birthplace in Seer Govardhanpur, Varanasi.
During his visit to Jalandhar Cantonment Railway Station, Modi was accompanied by Sachkhand Ballan Dera chief Niranjan Dass, who was recently honoured with a Padma award.
Road Projects Worth Over ₹3,000 Crore
Apart from railway projects, the Prime Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for National Highway projects worth more than ₹3,070 crore.
Among the major projects was the inauguration of the 30.9-kilometre Package-6 stretch of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, which is expected to improve connectivity and reduce travel time across northern India.
He also laid the foundation stone for the 25.2-kilometre six-lane Southern Ludhiana Bypass, a greenfield project aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving freight movement in the region.
India’s First Hydrogen-Powered Train
Earlier in the day, before arriving in Punjab, the Prime Minister visited Jind in Haryana, where he flagged off India’s first hydrogen-powered train.
Calling it a major milestone under the Make in India initiative, Modi said the project demonstrated India’s growing capability to develop environmentally friendly and advanced transport technologies while reducing dependence on conventional fossil fuels.
A Development-Focused Visit
Friday’s visit marked Prime Minister Modi’s second trip to Jalandhar this year after his February visit to the Dera Sachkhand Ballan, a prominent religious centre of the Ravidassia community.
With large-scale investments in railways, highways and modern transport infrastructure, along with strong political messaging, the visit underscored the BJP’s efforts to expand its presence in Punjab while projecting infrastructure development as a central theme ahead of the next Assembly elections.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
