Northern Railway asks Punjab Govt to appoint land acquisition authority, arbitrator for Rajpura–Mohali rail project
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, October 25, 2025: Northern Railway has written to the Punjab Government, urging it to nominate a Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA) and an arbitrator for the 18.11-km “Rajpura–Mohali New Line” railway project.
The project, which has been declared a “Special Railway Project” under the Gazette Notification (Amendment) Act, 2008, involves the acquisition of approximately 53.84 hectares of land across the districts of Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (SAS Nagar).
In its official communication, Northern Railway emphasized that the timely completion of this key infrastructure project is vital for improving regional connectivity and boosting economic development.
Click the link given to read copy of the letter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P7Vni1uuEjjsym9L45XTzG2ZNzDTgnr1/view?usp=sharing
“The Railways do not have a sufficient number of officers experienced in land acquisition. It is, therefore, requested that the Punjab Government appoint a Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA) and an arbitrator under the provisions of the Railway (Amendment) Act, 2008,” the letter stated.
The project was sanctioned via Railway Board letters dated September 23 and 25, 2025, and formally notified in the official gazette on October 24.
Northern Railway has also urged the Department of Revenue, Rehabilitation, and Disaster Management to nominate suitable officers from each of the three districts to ensure a smooth and expedited land acquisition process.
Union Minister of State for Railways, Ravneet Singh Bittu, expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving the long-pending project. “I am deeply thankful to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji for approving this long-pending project in the interest of the people of Punjab. Modi Ji has always shown a special affection and concern for the people of Punjab,” he said.
“With this initiative now designated as a Special Railway Project, I urge the Punjab Government to expedite the land acquisition process on priority. My department is fully prepared to commence the work on the ground immediately once the land is handed over by the state government,” Bittu added.