Holy city and smart too

Perhaps, no other place in Punjab occupies so much significance as Amritsar, a city that derives its name from Amrit Sarovar, a pool of nectar. Home to the Sikhs’ most revered holy shrine, Golden Temple, that attracts more visitors than even Taj Mahal, there can be little dispute over its enormous potential as a tourist hub. As it is, a major chunk of tourists visiting Punjab head for Amritsar and it figures prominently on Punjabi NRIs' radar too. Thus the recent decision of the Punjab government to earmark Rs 500 crore  for culture and tourism related activities in the holy city can only be hailed. Earlier, the inclusion of Amritsar in the Union Heritage Project too brought much cheer. However, the question in contention is whether grandiose pronouncements would ever bear fruit.   

If Amritsar has to truly carve its niche on the heritage tourism map of India, its unique historic and cultural legacy has to be preserved as well as showcased through concerted tourism campaigns. Better known for the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and the border retreat ceremony at Attari, Amritsar is actually a rich repository of many more historic sites such as the Faridkot Fort. Considerable efforts and money have gone into the restoration of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's precious heritage that includes Rambagh Palace complex, Rambagh Gate, Gobindgarh Fort and the Sham Singh Attariwala Samadhi complex, besides Pul Kanjri. Yet the state government has failed to project these as tourist attractions even to regular visitors.

 Besides, the city's infrastructure despite periodic noises about its upgrade leaves a lot to be desired. In the light of haphazard traffic, rampant encroachments, an unwieldy garbage disposal system and a host of other irritants, developing Amritsar into 'Smart City' as promised by the Modi government might seem like a tall order. The snail's pace at which the modernisation projects, including key catalysts such as the railway station, are moving further dampens the city's prospects as a world-class tourist draw. No doubt Amritsar's USP as a historic city can't be lost but it has to be far more than a holy city.