Ludhiana: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday laid the foundation for the Dedicated Freight Corridor (Eastern) Project which, when completed, would enable faster movement of goods across the country through rail.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad had announced the project in his Ministry's budget for 2006-07. The Rs. 66,000 crore project aims to connect the four metros with a view to weaning away goods traffic from roads.

Observing that it was the largest single railway project since Independence, Dr. Singh said it would change the face of Punjab and of all regions through which it passes. It would bring top class transport links to Punjab; textiles, hosiery, sports goods, machine tools, bicycles and industrial products would find easy access to ports and export markets.

Dr. Singh also remotely inaugurated two other projects — the 45.7 km Chandigarh-Morinda line, linking Ludhiana with the Union Territory, and the Amritsar-Haridwar Jan Shatabdi Express, connecting the pilgrim centres.

Work on the 67 km second phase of the Morinda-Samrala-Ludhiana link is in progress.

Dr. Singh said normalisation of India-Pakistan relations would once again turn Punjab into a major centre of trading with the neighbouring country and Central Asia.

"I must say that over the last two years, we have taken a number of steps to improve relations with Pakistan, and the people of Punjab have benefited through better bus connections and trade opportunities," he said.

With Assembly elections round the corner, the Prime Minister, who is on a two-day visit, said the Amarinder Singh Government had been working "tirelessly" for the State's development.

The United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre had also provided the maximum possible assistance to Punjab in the last two years. "The results are gradually becoming visible, and I am confident that a promising future awaits this region," he said. — PTI

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