SGPC’s multi-storey inn to meet heavy rush

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 22

With a view to accommodate the increasing footfall of devotees at the Golden Temple, a multi-storey sarai (inn) with ample parking facility is being constructed in the adjoining Akali Market.

Christened as Mata Tripta Niwas, SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal on Monday laid the foundation stone of the sarai, which has been dedicated to the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Spread in five acres, the new inn with 1,000 rooms has been proposed in the market that is owned by the SGPC. “As footfall to the Golden Temple has been increasing day by day, it was the need of hour to have an additional structure to accommodate them. We aim to execute the project as early as possible,” he said.

An amount of Rs 10 crore has been kept aside in the 2018-2019 budget to carry out the first phase of the project. The proposal was mooted earlier too, but it could not take off as a dispute arose with tenants who had moved court. At present, there are seven inns which provide lodging facility to pilgrims, maintained by the Golden Temple authorities. These inns collectively have around 800 rooms.

In a latest addition, a luxury 10-storey inn spread over 1.13 lakh square feet near Saragarhi parking lot has been opened, having 238 rooms, including 12 VIP suites and 226 rooms.

Thousands of pilgrims visit the holy shrine daily and the number goes up substantially during winter and summer vacations.

The problem of inadequate accommodation is all the more visible during special occasions, like Diwali and Gurpurbs, as the devotees can be seen lying either in the waiting area of the inns or the parikarma of the Golden Temple.

The SGPC has already been accepting online booking for accommodation at Mata Ganga Ji Niwas and Saragarhi Niwas. This facility would be extended for other inns too, soon. The accommodation for other sarais is available on ‘first come first serve basis’ subject to the availability. The booking office for all accommodations is situated in Shri Guru Arjan Dev Niwas.