Mann Revives 'Punjab on Wheels' Plan to Lease Dedicated Cargo Train for Industry

Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday indicated that the state govt was still keen on leasing its own cargo train to boost industrial development, even though the proposal has remained on the back burner for nearly four years. Referring to an Indian Railways policy initiative, Mann said the state was willing to pay leasing charges to ferry freight directly to Mundra port, reviving a plan that has seen little progress since 2022.Addressing the Punjab State Session during BharatTex 2026 in New Delhi, Mann said, "We even wanted to buy our own train. We were thinking about it. But I don't know what happened later, as the Railways did not follow up on the scheme. We could have used it to connect with Mundra port, and two or three industrialists could have collectively booked their freight. We had even thought of a name -- Punjab on Wheels. We are in talks with the Railways and, if they agree, we are willing to pay the rent or other charges for taking a train on lease."Mann was referring to the Indian Railways' Liberalized Wagon Investment Scheme (LWIS) and the related General Purpose Wagon Investment Scheme (GPWIS). Under these schemes, state utilities, thermal power plants and private industrialists can invest in and own customised wagons or rakes.The idea was first floated by Mann in August 2022, shortly after he took office, but did not materialise. Speaking at the Vision Punjab 2022 industrial summit, co-organised by Invest Punjab and ASSOCHAM, Mann had urged industrialists to collaborate with the govt to acquire three goods trains. The proposed fleet, to run between Punjab and Kandla port, was aimed at reducing freight costs for local businesses."Let us become the first state in India to have its own trains," Mann had said then, envisioning a fleet -- dubbed Punjab on Wheels -- that would export machinery such as tractors and return with industrial imports. At the time, he had said a goods train would cost around Rs 350 crore and could be financed through a low-interest loan at 3%.Meanwhile, Mann said Mohali was set to emerge as the state's next Silicon Valley because of its proximity to the airport. "The moment you get down at the airport, you will think you are in a different world. Research and data centres have come up," he said.