No govt funds, only kar seva: 2-lane road ready in Ropar

In a remarkable testament to the power of voluntary service, a two-lane stretch of a proposed four-lane road between Kanpur Khuhi and Singpur in Punjab’s Ropar district has been constructed without any government funding.

At the centre of this remarkable feat, achieved entirely through kar seva (community service), stands Baba Satnam Singh, the head of the Kar Seva Jatha Kila Anandgarh Sahib, who supervises the road barefoot, watching vehicles move over a stretch that was once a rugged path.

His calm presence masks the scale of what has been accomplished -- an 8-kilometre segment of the Anandpur Sahib-Garhshankar state highway has been widened, levelled, metalled and prepared for the lakhs of devotees expected for the observance of the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur next week.

“We started the work one year and nine months ago. With the blessings of the Guru and the support of people, the road has become motorable for devotees,” Baba Satnam Singh told The Tribune. He recalled how large mounds of earth were cut through, slopes carved out and multiple bridges constructed, tasks normally requiring government machinery.

What makes this effort even more extraordinary is that it moved forward despite the absence of official clearances. Even though the Public Works Department and the Department of Forests and Wildlife issued notices, locals continued to donate labour, material and even private land to the project. Despite bureaucratic hurdles, the effort has received support from local MLA and Education and Public Relations Minister Harjot Singh Bains.

Many villagers voluntarily offered portions of their fields to widen the road, acknowledging the long-pending need for better connectivity to major religious sites such as Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Mata Naina Devi Temple and Kiratpur Sahib.

“People came forward on their own. Only few moved court, but we have decided to compensate all landowners fairly,” Baba Satnam Singh said. The Jatha now plans to pay four times the registered value of the acquired land.

The Kar Seva Jatha, founded by the late Baba Labh Singh, has long been associated with constructing bridges and rural link roads around Anandpur Sahib. However, this project is their most ambitious undertaking yet. Baba Labh Singh had once petitioned former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to build this road, but no action followed. “After Babaji passed away in 2019, we decided to fulfil his vision ourselves,” said Baba Satnam Singh.

A unique feature of the project is the “seva toll”, a voluntary contribution point where travellers donate whatever they wish. In return, they are offered langar and tea, reflecting Sikh traditions of humility and service. The toll not only funds construction but also keeps the community involved in the project’s progress.

The vision, however, extends beyond road building. To maintain ecological balance, kar sevaks plan to plant heritage trees along a 30-foot belt on both sides of the road. A heritage well associated with Baba Shiv Ram is being preserved, and a museum dedicated to local cultural history is being built.