Chandigarh, April 29
Following two blasts in the past three months targeting the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor in Punjab, Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu on Wednesday announced enhanced security measures, including 24-hour patrolling, expanded CCTV coverage and drone surveillance along vulnerable stretches. He made the remarks after visiting the blast site between Shambhu and Rajpura and reviewing the security situation.
Bittu expressed concern about repeated attacks on railway infrastructure and said strict, immediate steps were being taken to strengthen monitoring and safety systems along the corridor. He said Railways would intensify round-the-clock patrolling and significantly increase surveillance coverage in the region.
According to the minister, the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor in Punjab currently has 173 CCTV cameras in the Ambala Division, with further installations underway. He added that special focus would be placed on secluded and vulnerable sections where additional monitoring tools, including drone surveillance and solar-powered cameras, would be deployed.
“We will deploy drones because CCTV cameras alone will not be sufficient to monitor long stretches. We are also installing solar cameras,” Bittu said while addressing reporters.
Railway officials will also carry out continuous ground patrols to ensure the safety of tracks, he added. The Special Director General of Police, Railway, Shashi Prabha Dwivedi, had earlier visited the site and recommended enhanced CCTV coverage along the corridor.
Bittu noted that this was the second blast within three months along a stretch of around 35 kilometres on the freight corridor. He said intelligence inputs indicated the involvement of a pro-Khalistan terror module allegedly backed by Pakistan’s ISI.
Punjab Police said one suspect died while attempting to detonate explosives, while four others were arrested in connection with the incident. Among those arrested was the alleged kingpin of the module, who officials said had links with handlers based abroad and arms suppliers operating from Pakistan.
The minister said more than 200 groups were currently active in attempts to disturb peace and harmony in Punjab. He also referred to a previous blast in January at Sirhind in Fatehgarh Sahib district in which a railway engine was damaged, and a railway official was injured.
Officials said the recent blast site was located closer to National Highway 44 compared to the earlier incident, raising concerns that miscreants were using nearby access routes to reach railway tracks.
The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, which connects Sahnewal in Punjab to West Bengal, is a key transport route with around 30 freight trains operating daily, carrying industrial and agricultural goods. Authorities said any disruption to the corridor could have a direct impact on both state and national economic activity.
Bittu also appreciated the alertness of a loco pilot who noticed an unusual impact and immediately stopped the train, preventing a possible major accident. Railway traffic was subsequently halted, and a safety team was dispatched to conduct an inspection.
Authorities have intensified security planning along the freight corridor amid repeated attempts to target railway infrastructure. Officials said ongoing measures aim to prevent further sabotage, safeguard critical transport routes and ensure uninterrupted movement of goods across the region.
