Tent city at Sultanpur Lodhi to accommodate 35,000 devotees
CHANDIGARH: A massive tent city spread over 270 acres has been readied at Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district to provide free accommodation to thousands of devotees who are expected to converge next month for the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.
The tent city, which has a capacity of 35,000 people, will comprise big and small dormitories, family tents, cubical tents for two persons, VIP lounges, langar (community kitchen) area, power back up and CCTVs, besides other basic amenities, according to Pankaj Sharma, the project manager.
Pilgrims from several parts of the country and abroad will be visiting the historic town, where the first Sikh Guru spent 14 years of his life. Indore-based company Girdhari Lal and Sons, which had set up a tent city in Patna in Bihar on the occasion of 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh in 2017, is undertaking the project at Sultanpur Lodhi.
“90% work of the tent city is complete,” said Sharma. The tent city, which is divided into three parts, will accommodate 35,000 devotees, he said. An online registration system will be put in place for allocation of space starting from November 1, he said.
The tent city will comprise 367 big dormitories (60 persons in each dormitory), 600 small dormitories (for 15 persons in each dormitory), 776 family tents (for four persons each) and 476 cubical tents (for two persons), he said adding that attached toilets will be provided with family and cubical tents.
A ‘pandal’ spread over 16,000 square metre will be set up which will have VIP lounges.
Area has also been demarcated for langar in the tent city. Besides, there will be cloak room, waiting lounge and “joda ghars” (place to keep shoes), he said.
“We will have 100% power back up, RO water supply and 250 CCTVs. Fire hydrants would also be arranged. Arrangements will be such that devotees face no problem during their stay,” said Sharma.
District authorities are expecting 15 to 20 lakh devotes for the celebrations. Congress MLA from Sultanpur Lodhi Navtej Cheema said villagers within seven to eight kilometres of this area were also being requested to accommodate people at their houses as there was going to be a huge rush of devotees .
“We are already witnessing a heavy inflow of devotees. That is why we are making arrangements for them at marriage palaces, colleges, hotels and wherever we could find place for their stay,” said Cheema.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is also making arrangements for accommodating people at “serais” inns) and some schools buildings. Arrangements for langar will also be made by the SGPC, an official said.
The Punjab government is spending over ₹300 crore on upgrade of infrastructure such as constructing roads, widening and repairing of roads.
EVENTS WILL START FROM NOVEMBER 4 AND AN ONLINE REGISTRATION SYSTEM FOR ACCOMMODATION WILL BE PUT IN PLACE FROM NOVEMBER 1