Sidhu unveils plan to develop Virasat-e-Khalsa

Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu today finalized a blue print to further develop prestigious Virasat-e-Khalsa, a museum of the Sikhs, at Anandpur Sahib.

Presiding over a meeting of Anandpur Sahib Foundation, the minister said since Virasat-e-Khalsa was attracting heavy tourist footfall from across the globe, it was high time to develop tented accommodation, budget hotels, food courts and souvenir shops in its vicinity.

Sidhu, the Punjab tourism and cultural affairs minister, also asked the foundation to get a comprehensive layout plan prepared from the architects to further develop the infrastructural facilities over remaining chunk of nearly 60 acres land.

He informed the meeting that the Government of India under Swadesh Darshan Scheme had already approved a sum of Rs 99 crore for the development of historical and religious sites across the state, of which Rs 29 crore would be exclusively incurred on the all round development of Anandpur Sahib.

Acknowledging the proposal mooted by Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal to connect Anandpur Sahib with Naina Devi through rope way, Sidhu said he would soon take up this issue with his Himachal Pradesh counterpart.

Underscoring the need to create a facade in the holy city of Anandpur Sahib on the pattern of Darbar Sahib in Amritsar, Sidhu asked Tourism Secretary Vikas Pratap to chalk out a detailed plan to ensure uniformity of all the buildings, shops and establishments in a holistic manner.