Nod for new rail line from Panipat to Asaoti

Proposed 95-km railway line to bypass Delhi; aims to fulfil transport needs of southern Haryana

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday approved a proposal to establish a 95-km railway line from Panipat to Asaoti in Palwal via Rohtak-Jhajjar-Farukhnagar-Patli-Manesar-Sohna bypassing Delhi, thus fulfilling the transport needs of people of southern Haryana.

An official spokesperson said the railway line will be developed by Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (HRIDC).

Direct connectivity

He said this new route will provide direct connectivity for Faridabad, Ballabgarh, Palwal, Sohna and Gurugram with other districts of Haryana and Chandigarh.

It will thus facilitate fast-passenger connectivity while avoiding Delhi with all important places, including the State Capital and running of Shatabdi-like trains from Gurugram to Chandigarh.

This will decongest the Delhi rail network, the spokesperson said, adding that reduction in density of both passengers and goods traffic in Delhi will be immensely beneficial to the National Capital Region from an environment point of view.

The spokesperson said the passing of the railway network of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ballabgarh and Palwal through Delhi is a major bottleneck in Haryana’s industrial growth.

The proposed line will thus open a new era of development in Haryana’s economy.

Missing links

Divulging details about the new line, he said a major part of the route already exists on the Railways’ network and only missing links will be required to be provided. The route from Panipat to Jhajjar via Rohtak already exists. Jhajjar can be connected to the already existing station at Farukhnagar through a new railway line of about 30-km.

While railway lines to Farukhnagar to Garhi Harsaru and Garhi Harsaru to Patli already exist, a new line of about 60 km from Patli to Asaoti via Manesar and Sohna will be required to be constructed.

In addition, provision of Y-connections will be made at Garhi Harsaru, Patli and Asaoti railway stations.

New greenfield projects

The spokesperson said development of this route is likely to give rise to new greenfield projects of multi-modal logistic parks (MMLPs) in this region.

This route will also facilitate direct connectivity while avoiding Delhi for the Container Corporation of India Limited depot at Tughlakabad to various important destinations in Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan and Gujarat.