Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on 17 December, 2025 that the survey for converting the 200-km-long Pathankot–Jogindernagar narrow-gauge railway line into a broad-gauge line has been completed.

The Minister said that a detailed project report (DPR) is being prepared. In response to a question from Kangra MP Rajeev Bhardwaj, he explained that a survey of the 57-km-long Jogindernagar railway line was conducted, but the traffic potential on this stretch was found to be low. 

Minister Vaishnaw also highlighted the Bilaspur–Manali–Leh railway line as a project of strategic importance, identified by the Ministry of Defence. The survey for this project is completed, and the DPR has been prepared. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 1,31,000 crore, which involves constructing a 489-km-long railway line, with 270 km passing through tunnels.