Bathinda, March 20
A historic milestone has been achieved today with the sanctioning of the railway link to Talwandi Sabo, the sacred land of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib—one of the five Takhts of Sikhism. Sharing this moment with pride, Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries, Ravneet Bittu, announced in Bathinda that this project is not merely about building a railway line—it represents faith, pride and long-overdue justice for Punjab. With this development, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib will now be connected by rail to the other four Takhts, marking a significant step in strengthening religious and regional connectivity.
The Raman Mandi–Sadda Singhwala New Broad Gauge Rail Line Project is a major infrastructure initiative under the Mansa–Bathinda Doubling Project. Spanning 42.9 km, the project will cost ₹1118.47 crore, with an average cost of ₹26.07 crore per kilometer. It will cover the districts of Mansa and Bathinda and is expected to significantly enhance transportation and regional development.
The project requires 192.42 hectares of land, including 40.508 hectares in Mansa district and 151.912 hectares in Bathinda district. It will include six stations—two existing and four new ones: Laleana, Talwandi Sabo, Jaga Ram Tirath, Kamalu Sawaich, along with a junction cabin at Kamalu Sawaich.
Designed as a completely level crossing-free rail link, the project will feature two major bridges, one additional major bridge component, 56 minor bridges, and 55 road under bridges (RUBs). It will also be equipped with 2×25 KV electric traction and the advanced MACLS-III signaling system.
Speaking on the occasion, Bittu questioned the past governments in Punjab, stating that despite decades of rule by Congress, followed by AAP and the Shiromani Akali Dal, meaningful infrastructure development and respect for Sikh heritage were neglected. He emphasized that while these parties used faith and emotions for political gain, they failed to deliver concrete results—such as connecting all five Takhts by rail. He concluded by thanking the current leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking tangible steps to honor Sikh faith through development and infrastructure, finally addressing long-pending demands of the people.
