Kartarpur corridor: Minister, nodal officer inspect route

DERA BABA NANAK (BATALA) : State cooperation and jails minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and additional chief secretary (home) Nirmal Singh Kalsi with a team of officials on Thursday morning reached Dera Baba Nanak to inspect the route of the Kartarpur corridor.

Officials of the Border Security Force (BSF) were also part of the team. Randhawa, who is also the Dera Baba Nanak MLA, told HT that the state government had appointed Kalsi as the nodal officer of the project. “All possible routes leading to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib were thoroughly inspected. Officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) took measurements to start the acquisition process,” he added.

“Within a couple of months, the land needed for this road will be acquired. The state government will construct the entrance gate. The Centre will provide the infrastructure for the passport and customs offices. Officials of the NHAI have accepted my request to include the route, which was used by Guru Nanak Dev to reach Kartarpur Sahib, as part of the corridor,” the minister added.

“Departments have framed their proposals and within a couple of days, these will be submitted to the Centre. We are determined that the Sikh community will celebrate the 550th birth anniversarry of Guru Nanak at Kartarpur Sahib,” Randhawa added. IG (border range), SPS Parmar, DC (Gurdaspur), Vipul Ujwal and Batala SSP Opinderjeet Singh Ghumman were also present.

Land for the road will be acquired in a couple of months. The state govt will construct the entrance gate. The Centre will provide infrastructure for passport and customs offices. SUKHJINDER SINGH RANDHAWA, cooperation and jails minister