Ferozepur-Patti Rail Track looks to be a distance dream

Ferozepur-Patti Rail Track looks to be a distance dream

Punjab Government failed to provide land and sharing of 50 per cent cost of Rs.148 crore

Ferozepur, April 20, 2015: While there was a credit war over the sanction of Ferozepur-Patti rail line and all section of people – importers, exporters and residents have welcomed on the announcement of Ferozepur-Patti 80 Km rail line during the rail budget 2013 but it still looks to be a distance dream as the Punjab Government has failed to provide land free of cost for the track besides commitment to contribute to 50 per cent matching amount of total project cost of Rs.148 crore.

This was stated by Anuj Parkash, Divisional Rail Manager, Ferozepur Division in a press conference called to highlight the achievements of Ferozepur Division during the Railway Week celebrations for the year 2015 on April 22.

Speaking to the media persons, DRM said, though the rail link stands approved in the budget but due to basic formalities like providing of land free of cost for the track and sharing of 50 percent cost of the total project of Rs.148 crore, the project is getting a final nod from the authorities.

The Ferozepur-Patti rail link announcement has sparked a credit war between the SAD Minister and Congress MP and the Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly.  But with the revealing of actual facts which were not earlier made public, the proverb – Out of the frying pan into the fire – fits well and the dream of the people of Punjab – which was claimed to be continuous and tireless efforts of leaders – looks to be a distanced dream.

It may however, be added that  Ferozepur-Patti rail link (say 30 Km from Makhu-Patti) would connect the people of Malwa with Majha and it would also be a boon for the rest of the country  as it will shorten the distance between the Northern States including Punjab to the trade capitals of Gujarat and Maharashtra.

As per the information, about 20,000 containers of basmati rice valued at around Rs 6,000 crore are exported from the holy city via Kandla port in Gujarat. Presently, exporters prefer to ferry the merchandise through trucks as they save about Rs 5000 on a truckload of 24 tonnes of goods in comparison to goods train. “The Patti-Ferozepur line would link Amritsar with the country’s financial capital and Gujarat and would prompt the exporters to switch over to freight trains.