“The process of land acquisition is almost over as money has been already sanctioned for the remaining Morinda-Sahnewal section,” he said.

He added that further delays are expected in the commencement of work on the proposed Chandigarh-Baddi rail link for which the Northern Railway will conduct another feasibility study.

A project of the Himachal Pradesh government, the 34-kilometre rail line is supposed to pass through Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh.

Accompanied by Divisional Railway Manager H K Jaggi, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Karan Singh, Chief Administrator Dharma Singh, Principal Chief Engineer A K Sharma, Safety Officer A K Chaudhary and IG (Railway Police Force) Pradeep Mehra, Sahay admitted to a dispute over 5-km land, which is in the UT.

“If required, the proposed Chandigarh-Baddi rail line will be re-surveyed for an alternative route,” said Sahay.