Anandpur Sahib, Jan 6: A proposed Heritage Street meant to improve access to Takht Shri Keshgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib remains stalled amid an ongoing standoff between the Punjab government and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
The project, which envisages a white-marble pathway from NH-503 to the Takht, has been suspended after SGPC officials objected to the construction and allegedly directed contractors to stop work. The half-dug stretch on the main road has since turned into a safety concern for pilgrims.
Officials in the state Tourism Department said there was little clarity on the future of the project.
“At present, there is no decision on when work will resume. Informally, there is talk that construction may only restart after the Hola Mohalla celebrations,” an official said.
The SGPC has maintained that the project would disrupt the movement of devotees. In a communication to the government on December 22, the manager of Takht Shri Keshgarh Sahib urged that construction be halted, raising objections to design elements, including a proposed entrance gate.
Acting Akal Takht Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargaj later expressed reservations, saying the gate could block the direct sightline of the Takht, a concern that has resonated within Sikh circles.
Government sources rejected the SGPC’s claims, stating that the project had earlier received approval from the Sikh body. “The resistance now appears political,” a senior official said.
The timing of the dispute has drawn attention, coming shortly after tensions between the SGPC and the AAP government over parallel events held during the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur in November.
Tourism officials warned that the continued delay could have financial consequences. The state has earmarked Rs 25 crore for the project, but the allocation risks lapsing if construction does not resume soon.
Education and Public Relations Minister Harjot Singh Bains refused to be drawn into the controversy. “I have fulfilled my responsibility by arranging funds for the holy city,” he said.
As the deadlock continues, a project intended to blend faith, heritage and tourism remains suspended, while pilgrims to Anandpur Sahib are left navigating uncertainty along with the dug-up road.
