Chandigarh: The Northern Railway has formally requested the Punjab Government to designate key officials for the land acquisition process related to the Rajpura–Mohali New Line project, an 18.11-km-long railway link aimed at improving regional connectivity and trade movement across the state.
In a recent communication to the state government, the railway authorities have sought the appointment of a Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA) and an arbitrator, citing a shortage of qualified officers within the railway department to manage the process.
The letter, accessed by The Tribune, emphasizes that the early appointment of these officials is crucial to ensure that the project progresses on schedule. “This railway line is a vital component of infrastructure development for the region. Timely acquisition of land is essential to avoid delays,” the letter stated.
As per the Gazette Notification (Amendment) Act, 2008, the Central Government has already declared the Rajpura–Mohali route a ‘Special Railway Project’, enabling it to acquire land under expedited provisions of the Railways (Amendment) Act, 2008.
The notification, published in the official gazette on October 24, authorizes the acquisition of 53.84 hectares of land across Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali) districts for the construction of the new line.
Officials said the proposed rail link is expected to ease passenger and freight movement between the industrial hubs of Patiala and Mohali, while also serving as an alternative route to Chandigarh. The line is part of a larger initiative to enhance Punjab’s intra-state railway network and reduce travel congestion.
Northern Railway noted that while the central government has already cleared the administrative formalities, the project’s execution now hinges on the state’s nomination of the CALA and arbitrator, who will handle compensation, dispute resolution, and other land-related procedures.
Once appointed, these authorities will begin assessing compensation for landowners and initiating the acquisition process in coordination with district administrations.
The move is being viewed as a key step toward kick-starting the long-pending Rajpura–Mohali railway corridor — a project that has faced repeated delays over administrative clearances and land acquisition hurdles.
