CM throws open holy city’s entry gate

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 25

The state government today dedicated the holy city’s beautification projects to the people.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal threw open the grand entry gate and the Heritage Street leading to the Golden Temple. The former has been built at a cost of Rs 9.3 crore, while Rs 160 crore were spent on the latter. Aboutt 170 buildings in the vicinity of the shrine were given a facelift.

A portion of the multimedia interpretation centre in the Golden Temple plaza basement was also inaugurated. In his address, the CM said the government had performed ‘sewa’ (service) without any greed or political mileage. While complimenting Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal and his team, the CM asked them to formulate a plan for giving a heritage look to all roads leading to the Golden Temple.

“The SAD-BJP government has undertaken the momentous task of preserving the cultural heritage of Punjab through state-of-the-art memorials and monuments. In the coming days, the Jang-e-Azadi Memorial, Baba Jeevan Singh (Bhai Jaita Ji) Memorial, Guru Ravidass Memorial and Bhagwan Valmiki Sthal will also be dedicated to the people,” he said.

The Deputy CM said this was just the beginning, while promising all-round beautification of the holy city during the next five years. “No political angle should be seen into it as it was a project dear to me as a devotee,” he added.

Prominent among others present were Union Minister and state BJP president Vijay Sampla, Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Cabinet ministers Bikram Singh Majithia, Ajit Singh Kohar, Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Anil Joshi and Gulzar Singh Ranike, former ministers Bibi Jagir Kaur, Upinderjit Kaur, Sewa Singh Sekhwan and Nirmal Singh Kahlon, and Punjab Agro Chairman Dyal Singh Kolianwali.