Congress member of Parliament (MP) from Ambala Varun Chaudhary has urged the Union government to reconsider the proposed Chandigarh-Yamunanagar railway line via Naraingarh, questioning the Centre’s decision to reject the long-pending project on financial viability grounds.
The 90-km rail link, a longstanding demand of the region’s residents, was found financially unviable by Northern Railway after examining a feasibility report prepared by the Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (HRIDC).
According to a reply from the ministry of railways to Chaudhary’s recent question in the Lok Sabha, the HRIDC submitted the feasibility report to Northern Railway in December 2019. The railway subsequently assessed the project and found its rate of return to be negative, making it economically unjustified.
The ministry also said that examining various aspects of the feasibility report in detail contributed to the delay in deciding on the proposal.
Chaudhary has challenged the argument that the railway line should be assessed primarily on its financial returns. He said passenger railway services often serve broader public and social objectives and cannot always be evaluated solely on profit.
“Most of the passenger trains run at a loss… should they be forced to stop according to the ministry’s logic?” Chaudhary asked, while also questioning the viability of other railway initiatives undertaken by the government.
{{/usCountry}}“Most of the passenger trains run at a loss… should they be forced to stop according to the ministry’s logic?” Chaudhary asked, while also questioning the viability of other railway initiatives undertaken by the government.
{{/usCountry}}The proposed line would connect Chandigarh with Yamunanagar through Naraingarh and Sadhaura, providing an alternative rail route and improving connectivity to the Shivalik foothill areas.
Proponents of the project argue that it could create employment opportunities, improve access to Chandigarh and stimulate economic activity in Yamunanagar, particularly its plywood and utensils industries.
The demand had earlier been strongly pursued by former Ambala BJP MP Rattan Lal Kataria, who continued to press for the project until his death in May 2023.
The Haryana government had previously cited the project’s poor financial returns as the reason for its unviability. Former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had also pointed to the existing rail route through Ambala, NH-344 and the upcoming Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor as alternative connectivity and commercial options.
Chaudhary, however, maintained that the project deserves another assessment and urged the Centre to initiate steps for its implementation at the earliest.