Chandigarh, 25 October 2025: Northern Railway has requested the Punjab Government to appoint a Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA) and an arbitrator for the Rajpura–Mohali railway line, a new corridor designated by the Centre as a “Special Railway Project.”
The communication follows a Gazette Notification dated October 24 under the Railway (Amendment) Act, 2008, declaring the 18.11-km Rajpura–Mohali New Line as a national infrastructure venture. The project involves the acquisition of approximately 53.84 hectares of land across Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (SAS Nagar) districts.
In a letter addressed to the Punjab Government—Northern Railway underscored the need for swift administrative action to keep the project on track. “The successful and timely completion of this crucial railway infrastructure project is vital for regional connectivity and economic development,” the letter said.
It also pointed out that the Railway department does not have enough qualified officers with experience in land acquisition to act as the competent authority. “It is therefore requested to appoint a Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA) and an arbitrator for the acquisition of land under the provisions of the Railway (Amendment) Act, 2008,” the communication stated.
The project, aimed at improving connectivity between Rajpura and Mohali, is expected to benefit the Malwa region by linking it more directly with Chandigarh. Officials said the rail link, once operational, would boost trade, mobility, and regional growth.
