New Delhi: Issues related to facilities for the Indian pilgrims, including allowing a substantial number of them to easily visit the holy Gurdwara across the border and some other modalities for the Kartarpur corridor, will be discussed at the forthcoming meeting between India and Pakistan on July 14, 2019 at the Wagah border.
Sources said that the Indian government is moving fast on infrastructure development on its side and the road and other facilities should be ready by this year end. Giving details of that, sources said that a state-of-the-art passenger terminal building is being constructed by the Land Ports Authority of India. The work was awarded on May 29, 2019 to Shapoorji Palonji company. The land acquisition process for this has been completed with the support of the Punjab government and the project is scheduled to be complete by October 31. 2019. The total cost of the project is Rs 177.50 crore
Besides, a four-lane highway connecting Zero Point of the Kartarpur corridor up to National Highway 354 is being constructed by the National Highway Authority of India.
The work was awarded in January 2019 at a total cost of Rs 120 crore and the land acquisition of 58 acres has been completed with the support of the state government. Sources said nearly 45 per cent of the work has been completed and the road is scheduled to be ready by September 30, 2019.
Sources said that concerns regarding possible flooding of Dera Baba Nanak due to construction of an embankment filled road on the Pakistan side have been raised strongly with Pakistan. Three rounds of technical level discussions have been held with Pakistan on this issue and they have been asked not to create structures that would, in any manner, endanger life and property on the Indian side due to flooding. India is already building a bridge on its side to provide for all weather connectivity for the Kartarpur corridor, sources said adding Pakistan has also been asked to build similar bridge on their side that would provide safe and secure movement of the pilgrims and also address concerns with regard to flooding. “The government remains committed to expeditiously realise the Kartarpur corridor so that the pilgrims can have easy, smooth, secure and safe access to the holy Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib throughout the year,” sources said.
