A major bottleneck on Punjab’s rail-road network is set to be eliminated with the commencement of a four-lane railway over bridge (ROB) at Doraha, aimed at streamlining connectivity between the state capital and the Malwa region.
Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu laid the foundation stone for the Rs 70.55 crore project at level crossing No. 164AB in Ludhiana district. The bridge is targeted for completion within one year.
The Doraha crossing, linking Rupnagar and Ludhiana, witnesses the movement of nearly 190 trains and over 3,000 vehicles daily. Frequent gate closures over the past 12 years have led to prolonged traffic snarls and commuter inconvenience. The new ROB is expected to ensure uninterrupted vehicular flow, reduce congestion and enhance logistical efficiency for traders and transporters.
The project forms part of a broader railway infrastructure push in Punjab. According to the minister, works on railway-over-bridges, under-bridges and low-height subways are underway at 166 locations across the state, involving an investment of Rs 1,480.09 crore. Ongoing railway infrastructure projects in Punjab cumulatively account for Rs 26,382 crore.
Additionally, 30 stations are being upgraded under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme with an outlay of Rs 1,311 crore. Capacity augmentation on the Delhi–Ambala section through third and fourth rail lines, approved at Rs 5,983 crore, is also set to enhance freight and passenger movement along the Delhi-Jammu corridor.
