Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for rail and road projects worth Rs 5,470 crore in Punjab’s Jalandhar on Friday, with the main event at Jalandhar Cantonment railway station. The visit follows a stop in Chandigarh, where he will launch healthcare, education, and road projects valued at over Rs 4,700 crore.
Key infrastructure projects in Punjab
The Jalandhar event will include the inauguration of 75 redeveloped railway stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, costing Rs 1,570 crore. Four of these—Jalandhar Cantonment, S A S Nagar (Mohali), Sri Muktsar Sahib, and Sri Anandpur Sahib—are in Punjab, modernized with upgraded amenities and local cultural elements.
Other highlights include the inauguration of the Daulatpur Chowk-Kartoli rail line (Rs 830 crore), part of the Nangal Dam-Talwara-Mukerian New Rail Line Project, and the flagging off of new train services connecting Ambala, Varanasi, and Kartoli. Road projects include the 30.9-km Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway segment and the foundation stone for the 25.2-km Southern Ludhiana Bypass.
Chandigarh healthcare and education projects
In Chandigarh, Modi will inaugurate the Advanced Mother and Child Centre and Advanced Neurosciences Centre at PGIMER, alongside laying the foundation for a 150-bed Critical Care Block. These projects aim to strengthen maternal, pediatric, and critical healthcare in the region.
Security and political context
Security has been tightened in Jalandhar, with a no-flying zone declared during the visit. Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon stated the projects align with the Prime Minister’s infrastructure vision, blending modern transport hubs with cultural preservation. The visit marks Modi’s second to Jalandhar this year, as the BJP prepares for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections independently.
