Govt finally approves Kartarpur corridor 19 years after it was originally proposed

The Kartarpur corridor will be developed up to the international border for Sikh pilgrims from India to easily visit the holy Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur on the banks of Rabi river in Pakistan.

Nineteen years after the Kartarpur Sahib corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district of Punjab was proposed by the Indian government to serve Sikh pilgrims, the Centre has finally given the nod for the construction to begin. Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday tweeted that the corridor will be developed up to the international border for Sikh pilgrims from India to easily visit the holy Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur on the banks of Rabi river in Pakistan where Guru Nanak spent his last 18 years.

The decision has come at the time when the Sikh community is gearing up to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

The government will be funding the corridor’s construction as an integrated development project. Pakistan has also agreed to build a similar corridor along the proposed Kartarpur corridor, reports India Today.

This corridor will aid pilgrims from India to travel with ease and will be equipped with all the necessary facilities, the government noted.

It also said that it will develop Sultanpur Lodhi of Punjab, the birthplace of Guru Nanak, as a heritage town replete with all the facilities of a smart city.

The town will be energy-efficient to highlight Guru Nanak’s concern for nature conservation.

Additionally, a heritage complex, named Pind Babe Nanak De, will showcase the life of Guru Nanak, and the Sultanpur Lodhi railway station will be upgraded with modern amenities as well, reports Republic World.

At present, Indian pilgrims visit Pakistan on a regular visa which doesn’t require any special permission from the Pakistani officials.

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had initially proposed the Kartarpur corridor in 1999 during a bus ride to Lahore on a peace initiative with Pakistan.