Punjab CM seeks Gadkari's intervention for clearance of road projects

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday sought the personal intervention of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari for expeditious clearance of road projects related to the historic towns of Sultanpur Lodhi, Batala and Dera Baba Nanak, associated with the life of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, which will be observed in November 2019.

In a letter to Gadkari, the Chief Minister said that he was grateful to the Government of India for acceding to the request of Punjab government about the projects and announcements in this regard, especially the opening of Kartarpur corridor to facilitate smooth and easy access to devotees to Kartarpur Sahib.

In view of the historic importance of these religious towns, Captain Amarinder Singh sought additional allocation of Rs 150 crore under the Central Road Fund (CRF) for the upgradation of the road network in Sultanpur Lodhi, Batala, Dera Baba Nanak and Gurdaspur.

The Chief Minister also sought from the Union Minister four-laning of 21.3-km stretch, which is currently two-laned with 10-meter carriageway, at an estimated cost of Rs 260 crore. This stretch is part of Jalandhar-Kapurthala-Sultanpur Lodhi NH-703-A, an important highway which connects the holy town of Sultanpur Lodhi with the rest of Punjab and beyond.

The Chief Minister also impressed upon Gadkari to immediately declare the Tarn Taran-Goindwal Sahib-Kapurthala Road as National Highway, as it is related to the life of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji and connects Sultanpur Lodhi with Amritsar.

He apprised the Union Minister that the Central government on November 6, 2017 has already given in-principle approval for the declaration of the aforesaid road as National Highway.

The Chief Minister further said that in view of the announcement to open Kartarpur corridor, Dera Baba Nanak should be connected with Batala by a four-laned highway to enable the devotees to visit Kartarpur Sahib by a short route.

Notably, Sultanpur Lodhi is of great religious significance as Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji spent 14 years here and attained enlightenment, before embarking on his missionary travels. In addition, other important places linked to Guru Nanak Dev ji are Batala, where his marriage was solemnized and Dera Baba Nanak, where he spent the last days of his temporal life.