Jalandhar, July 18 -- Eyeing the 2027 Punjab assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of rail and road infrastructure projects worth Rs.5,470 crore from Jalandhar, with the bulk aimed at boosting Punjab's development. Top BJP leaders from the state remained present on the occasion as the party sought to build momentum ahead of the 2027 polls. From the Jalandhar Cantonment station, Modi virtually inaugurated 75 redeveloped railway stations across the country under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Four of these redeveloped stations are in Punjab - Jalandhar Cantonment, Anandpur Sahib, Muktsar and Mohali. Built at a cost of approximately Rs.1,570 crore, the stations incorporate local culture, heritage and architecture under the theme "Virasat Bhi, Vikas Bhi". The Prime Minister also flagged off the Kartoli-Ambala train service, improving connectivity across Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, and the Chheharta (Amritsar)-Varanasi train. Addressing the gathering, Modi said the revamped Jalandhar Cantonment railway station reflected India's march towards becoming a developed nation. "Similarly, the stations at Anandpur Sahib, Muktsar and Mohali have also been transformed. Our new railway stations will become hubs for trade and business. The redeveloped stations offer a glimpse of our heritage and cultural legacy. Jalandhar station reflects its sporting traditions and folk culture, while Anandpur Sahib station has a glimpse of Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib and Kalka station features the Sri Kali Temple," he said. Modi also inaugurated the 30.9-km stretch of the four-lane greenfield Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway and laid the foundation stone for the 25.2-km six-lane Southern Ludhiana Bypass, which will reduce travel time between Ludhiana and Bathinda. Meanwhile, Union minister of state for railways Ravneet Singh Bittu lashed out at chief minister Bhagwant Mann for staying away from the event, stating that the chief minister should have attended as the projectswere meant for Punjab's development. State BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon thanked the Prime Minister for never visiting Punjab empty-handed and always bringing developmental initiatives for the state. Rajya Sabha member Satnam Singh Sandhu said Prime Minister's visit to Punjab had marked the beginning of a new chapter in the state's development journey, asserting that the people of Punjab were ready for a decisive political change in 2027 polls....