Bypass, rest houses proposed for Sultanpur Lodhi town

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 2

As the state government has begun to make plans for refurbishing the holy town of Sultanpur Lodhi ahead of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev to be celebrated in 2019, the excitement regarding the mega event is already being felt this year ahead of the Gurpurb.

The town has so far been getting more devotees from across the state than previous years. Nagar kirtan is being taken out daily from the past week.

Stalls put up outside historical gurdwaras of Ber Sahib, Hatt Sahib, Kothri Sahib and Bebe Nanki are getting many visitors.

As the programmes began today, SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar visited Ber Sahib gurdwara to pay obeisance. Tourism and Culture Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Tript Rajinder Bajwa are expected to visit the holy city for Gurpurb celebrations and unveil the plan for sprucing up the town in the next two years.

Deputy Commissioner, Kapurthala, Mohammad Tayyab said, “We have already got the required police force deployed. A duty magistrate, too, has been appointed. Regarding the 2019 Gurpurb plans, proposals for constructing a bypass, rest houses, upkeep of railway station and other arrangements required for holding the celebrations have been mooted by a committee, headed by Sultanpur Lodhi MLA Navtej Cheema. These proposals have been sent to the Punjab Chief Minister for his final nod.”

Cheema said, “Sultanpur Lodhi had got a major infrastructural boost during the 500th Gurpurb in 1969 and it is time again for beautifying the holy place, where Guru Nanak got enlightenment. We have big plans again this time for which a committee, comprising leaders of all political parties, has been formed.”