Union Govt clears decks for Guru Gobind Singh Marg

Chandigarh, Nov 23 (UNI) The Union Government today cleared the decks for the Guru Gobind Singh Marg from Anandpur Sahib in Punjab to Nanded in Maharashtra as ''a key artery of national bonding and a spiritual lifeline to promote national integration.'' The 2480 km Marg would be taken up as a major project of national concern and will pass through Punjab , Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting which between Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Union Home Minister Shiv Raj Patil and Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni in Parliament House at Delhi today.

Stating this here Media Advisor to the Chief Minister, Mr Harcharan Bains said that the Union Government also accepted Mr Badal's proposal that this historic route be treated as a national highway with a religious nomenclature. The states concerned have already been sounded out on the Union Government's thinking in this regard.

The meeting was also attended by Punjab PWD(B&R) Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Haryana Agriculture Minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha besides the Transport Ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

Later Mr Patil, who also heads the National Committee formed to commemorate the tercentenary celebrations of the Holy Granth Sahib's installation as the Guru (Guruta Gaddi Diwas), assured the Chief Minister that he would take the matter to the Union Cabinet to expedite progress on the Marg project. The commemorative event would be observed on October 7 next.

Mr Patil said in the meeting that apart from its significance as a major infrastructure development project, the Marg would have unprecedented emotional, spiritual and socio-psychological dimension.

Mr Bains informed that Union Tourism Minister would soon convene a follow up meeting with the representatives of the respective state governments to further chalk out the modalities for the implementation of Marg project ahead of the 'Guruta Gaddi' celebrations.

UNI