Land prices set to skyrocket in Dera Baba Nanak

Ravi Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service
Dera Baba Nanak, November 24

Land prices in and around the historical township of Dera Baba Nanak, located barely 100 metres from the International Border, are set to skyrocket following the decision of the Indian and Pakistan governments to construct a 3.5-km corridor from the town till the Kartarpur shrine across the border.

Real estate experts claim that apart from land prices, the economy of the entire border district of Gurdaspur is set to grow exponentially.

The starting point of lakhs of devotees from the Indian side, who are expected to pay obeisance at Kartarpur Gurdwara, will be Dera Baba Nanak.

“The town will be converted into an important religio-tourism hub following which land prices will invariably increase manifold. Already some Delhi-based property dealers have started eyeing the area. The biggest beneficiaries will be the hotel and restaurant industry. In just one stroke, the town has been catapulted to international fame,” said Manjit Singh Dala, a Gurdaspur-based real estate owner.

Dera Baba Nanak MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said prices of both agriculture and commercial land would see an increase.

There are reports that overnight the prices of agriculture land have surged. “The price per acre of land was Rs 15 to 20 lakh. After Thursday’s announcement, agriculturists are demanding Rs 30-35 lakh per acre,” said a farmer.

Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Batala-based hoteliers have begun the process of opening offices in the city. “We have decided to establish offices in Dera Baba Nanak and will offer free transportation to pilgrims till Amritsar, Batala and Gurdaspur. Since the town does not have even a single hotel, long-distance pilgrims will have no option except to stay in our hotels. The corridor has actually revived our industry. For the last several years, business had not been good but now we see a ray of hope,” said Romesh Mahajan, president of the Gurdaspur District Hotel Owners Association.

There are about 15 hotels in Gurdaspur and 20-odd in Batala. In Amritsar, the count is over 150. “Pilgrims travelling from HP and J&K will be taking the Pathankot-Dinanagar-Gurdaspur-Kala-naur route to reach Dera Baba Nanak. Because Gurdaspur is the last big city on the way to Dera Baba Nanak, we expect people to make a stopover. Devotees coming from Delhi and other parts of the country will be taking the Jalandhar-Tanda-Dasuya-Mukerian route or alternatively the Jalandhar-Baba Bakala-Batala road. Both ways, we stand to benefit,” averred Romesh Mahajan.

Commercial boost

• Real estate experts claim the economy of the entire border district of Gurdaspur is set to grow exponentially
• Biggest beneficiary if corridor opens will be the hotel and restaurant industry 
• There are about 15 hotels in Gurdaspur and 20-odd in Batala. In Amritsar, the count is over 150
• Overnight, reports suggest, the prices of agriculture land have surged from Rs 15-20 lakh per acre to Rs 30-35 lakh