Railway link demand gathers steam

A long-pending demand for a direct railway line connecting Hoshiarpur to Chandigarh via Nawanshahr, Balachaur and Rupnagar continues to remain in limbo, despite repeated appeals by residents and social activists. The project, which locals say is vital for the region, has seen little movement from the authorities even after years of sustained efforts.

Leading the push is social worker Harjodh Singh Daghamia, a resident of Dagham village in Garhshankar tehsil, who has been pursuing the matter since 2017. On behalf of the people of Hoshiarpur, he has written to the President, Prime Minister, Northern Railways and the Punjab Government, urging them to sanction the much-needed rail link.

“This is not a personal demand. It is the collective voice of the public, ignored for far too long,” said Daghamia. He criticised the railway authorities for rejecting the proposal earlier on the grounds of financial unviability, calling the response “baseless and completely detached from the ground reality”.

The issue has repeatedly surfaced during general elections, with the residents reminding political parties and candidates of their promises. “Every election, they promise to take it up. But once the votes are cast, the issue is forgotten,” said Manpreet Kaur, a college student who travels to Chandigarh for competitive exams and interviews.

Currently, Hoshiarpur is connected by rail only to Jalandhar. The residents, students and patients are forced to rely on overcrowded buses and jam-packed roads to reach Chandigarh for medical, educational and administrative needs. “Thousands travel daily for treatment to the PGI or GMCH-32. A direct train would be a lifeline,” said Ramesh Kumar, whose elderly parents travel to Chandigarh every fortnight for cancer treatment.

Horjodh said despite the overwhelming public support, and even after a survey conducted by the Chief Engineer of Punjab Railways and the Punjab Government forwarding the proposal to the Centre, no action had been taken in this regard.

In his most recent appeal, he said he had written to Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, urging him to intervene and ensure the project was included in the next railway Budget. “Minister Bittu is from Punjab and understands how critical this link is. We hope he will stand with the people,” Daghamia said.

The locals say they were losing patience since demand was being neglected for a long time now. “This is our right, not a favour,” said a resident, Himmat Singh, adding that they would not stop raising their voice until their demand was fulfilled.

Punjab