CHANDIGARH: The centre government on Saturday gave its nod for upgrading railway infrastructure in Punjab through a chain of new tracks, construction of old and new over and under-bridges and improving railways communication network

The Chief Minister also focused on the raising and re-modeling of 17 culverts railway bridges in the 4 districts of Muktsar, Ferozepur, Bathinda and Faridkot. He said that the cattle crossing gate at village Biring Khera in block Lambi of Distirct Muktsar needed to be converted into a manned crossing railway gate. The State would deposit the requisite funds for this purpose, Bains said.

The Chief Minister sought central clearance for the railway over bridge on Gidderbaha on Bhatinda-Hanumangarh line, and the laying of a new railway line from Rama Mandi to Mour Mandi in district Bhatinda. The necessary survey for this project had already been conducted by the Ministry of Railways.
          
Bains said that the Union Railways Minister agreed with  Badal that since Punjab was a border state, and it deserved more wholesome and elaborate railway network not only to bring prosperity to the state but also boost also strengthen logistic support for the armed forces. The prospects of agriculture and industry in the state would also be positively impacted by such improvements in the railways infrastructure,  Badal told Yadav.
       
 The Railways Minister assured Badal that all the issues raised by him relating to the up gradation of railway infrastructure in terms of the construction of new railway over and under bridge, railway stations and railway lines would be addressed within a specific time-frame. 
       
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Secretary PWD  Karan Avtar Singh special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Punjab  K.J.S. Cheema, Principal Resident Commission, New Delhi Anjuly Chib Duggal. The Member Traffic, Member Engineering of Railway Board and Secretary Railways Government of India were also present in meeting.