CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday directed the Tourism and Cultural Affairs department to invite global tenders for the prestigious project ‘Pind Babe Nanak Da’ dedicated to the 550th Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Sultanpur Lodhi.
Chairing a meeting to review the progress of this project here at his official residence, Bhagwant Mann asked the department to engage the world acclaimed architects for the construction of this iconic project to come up over an area of 40 acres at cost of Rs.500 crore.
Taking part in the deliberations, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Harjot Singh Bains apprised the Chief Minister that Government of India has already given in-principle approval to the concept paper for the aforesaid project.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also directed the Tourism department to complete the upcoming Bhai Jaita Ji Memorial at Sri Anandpur Sahib positively by December 2022, while chairing another meeting of Anandpur Sahib Foundation. He also asked the department to ensure quality construction of this prestigious project as per the stipulated specifications approved by the competent authority, which is coming up in the complex of Virasat-e-Khalsa at a cost of Rs. 13 crore over an area of five acres.
Notably, valiant Sikh General Baba Jiwan Singh (Bhai Jaita Ji) was a devout Sikh of Dasmesh Pita Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who brought the severed head (Sis) of the Ninth Sikh Guru Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib from Chandni Chowk, Delhi to Sri Kiratpur Sahib.
Likewise, the Chief Minister also asked the department to complete the Nature Park being set up within the precincts of Virasat-e-Khalsa by positively by December this year at a cost of Rs. 10 crore. Bhagwant Mann said this project would be a centre of attraction for people visiting here in general and especially for nature lovers.
The Chief Minister while presiding over the first meeting of Amritsar Cultural and Tourism Development Authority reviewed the progress of various heritage and tourism cultural sites including Golden Temple Plaza in the holy city of Amritsar.
Emphasizing the religious and historical importance of holy city of Amritsar, the Chief Minister asked the department to complete all the ongoing works under the authority at the earliest so as to showcase Amritsar as a global tourism hub.
Prominent amongst those who were present in the meeting included; Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Chief Secretary Anirudh Tewari, Additional Chief Secretary to CM A. Venu Prasad, Principal Secretary Tourism & Cultural Affairs Tejveer Singh, Secretary Information & Public Relations MS Jaggi and Director Tourism & Cultural Affairs Karnesh Sharma.