Racing against time for holy city’s makeover as Guru’s event nears

Though Punjab Government has announced elaborate arrangements, including creation of three tent cities, renovation drives and even a historic Assembly session to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur in Anandpur Sahib, locals complain that the city’s transformation is far from complete.

Official sources said Rs 28 crore would be spent on three tent cities to accommodate thousands of devotees, expected to arrive between November 21 and 29. While two tent cities were being set up for pilgrims, a site at Power Colony would come up for VIP guests.

In a historic move, the Vidhan Sabha would convene its session at the Virasat-e-Khalsa Complex on November 24.

At Charan Ganga Stadium, arrangements are underway for a light-and-sound show on November 20 that would depict the life and martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur. With a seating capacity of around 25,000 people, it promises to be one of the major attractions during the week-long celebrations. The state government has initiated road works connecting Anandpur Sahib to the historic Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. Most internal roads have been freshly metalled to ensure smooth passage for devotees. However, the national highway stretch from Kiratpur Sahib to Nangal (NH-503) remains in a poor shape, with only patchwork repairs carried out.

Rajpal Angra, a local, expressed disappointment over the lacklustre pace of work. “The 350th martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur is a global spiritual event, yet the city doesn’t look prepared. During the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa in 1999, the entire town was painted white. This time, only the streetlights have received a fresh coat of paint. Cleanliness and beautification works are incomplete,” he said. Adding to the concern is the delay in key infrastructure projects. A proposed Rs 25-crore heritage street, which was to link the main road to Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, is yet to see any progress. Although the repair of streetlights along the main roads has begun, drains remain choked with garbage, and heaps of plastic waste can still be seen at several locations.

The sacred Gurdwara Sishganj, situated just 100 metres from the Takht Sahib, holds special historical significance as the site where Bhai Jaita brought back the severed head of Guru Teg Bahadur.