'White city' prepares for pilgrims
From Sushil Goyal
Tribune News Service

ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 3 — With the convergence of thousands of devotees daily on this "white city", even a week before the formal inauguration of tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa on April 8, the district administration is gearing itself to cope up with the needs of the pilgrims.

A huge pandal being raised near Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib here by the Anandpur Sahib Foundation for religious functions from April 8 to 14 has become a centre of attraction.

According to Deputy Commissioner K.S. Sidhu, it is being raised on 4.5 acres at an approximate cost of Rs 1 crore. The sitting capacity of the pandal is more than 60,000. The height of this waterproof pandal is between 15 to 35 feet while its length and width is 470 ft and 300 ft, respectively.

Hundreds of workers have been working on this pandal for the past about 15 days. It will be completed by April 5.

The administration had made elaborate arrangements for providing basic amenities to 20 lakh pilgrims expected to arrive for the tercentenary celebrations.

In view of the heavy rush, more than 5,000 temporary toilets, 1200 temporary urinals and 360 temporary baths have been made available. These are in addition to the existing 19 permanent lavatory blocks.

About 60 water tankers, including sprinklers, will be pressed into service. Twenty fire tenders have been kept ready for any urgency. More than 900 safai sewaks have been deployed to clean the toilets.

According to Mr Tejbir Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner, here, 150 acres have been developed for parking and camping at Kiratpur Sahib, Jhinjhri village, Agampur road, Nangal road and Dashmesh Academy. Drinking water and lighting facilities have also been provided there. For the stay of pilgrims, tents have been put up in 50 acres. Besides, the Army has been asked to put up 400 tents.

Mr Tejbir Singh said a shuttle bus service from all parking sites to Anandpur Sahib would also be provided. As many as 20 langar sheds had been constructed. Public assistance centres would work round the clock at each control room.

A 100-bed hospital besides a 10-bed trauma ward had for been kept ready for medical facilities. A 10-bed base hospital had also been set up at the railway station. Teams of doctors from the CMC, the DMC, Medical College, Patiala, and the Army Medical Corps would also be here.

Mrs Jaspreet Talwar, Additional Chief Administrator of ASUDA here said 5000 saffron and blue flags would be put up along the "Khalsa fateh march" route from Kiratpur Sahib to this town. Five specially decorated gates would be erected from the Markfed gate to the town.

Talking to TNS regarding the security arrangements, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ropar, Mr Jaskaran Singh, said the police had chalked out a three-tier security plan — Traffic management and general security, VIP security and security at conferences.

The SSP said 10 nakas would be laid. As many as 12 patrol parties on foot and an equal number of mobile patrol parties would be pressed into service. Seven diversion points had been identified for controlling traffic. He said 15 control rooms-cum-information centres would function round the clock. Either a DSP or an inspector would be in charge of each control room.

Mr Jaskaran Singh said 4500 policemen, including 40 gazetted officers and 250 non-gazetted officers, would be deployed during the celebrations.