Eyeing November completion, approach to Golden Temple starts seeing changes

As the construction work goes on at war scale on the approach road to Golden Temple, the project has started to change the face of the area and is eyeing completion by November.

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In an effort to decongest the area around the Golden Temple and also give an impressive and broad passage to visitors and pilgrims, the government had kicked-off three projects costing around Rs 160 crore last year.

As soon as one reaches the Town Hall building the ongoing work is visible as the roads are being widened, the buildings are being given a uniform heritage look, new roundabouts are being constructed and white marble is being laid from Chowk Fawara to the Golden Temple.

Chowk Phawara is being given a makeover with installation of a statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and a foundation. Also, the Dharma Singh market is being elevated with uniformity in the front look.

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However, the pilgrims are being hassled as the area remains congested with construction material scattered all over the place. In the current situation, it is seven difficult for pedestrians to walk through the area. But if the officials monitoring the projects are to be believed, this hassle will end by November or December.

As per one of the beautification projects costing Rs 82 crore, roads and pedestrian pathways with revamp of about 500-metre stretch from the Chowk Fawara to Golden Temple is underway. The stretch will be demarcated as a no-vehicle zone.

A statue of BR Ambedkar is set up on the roundabout outside MC building. A monument of the Amar Jawan Jyoti (flame of the immortal soldier) measuring around 16-feet will also be installed outside the Jallianwala Bagh.

Claiming that the project will be completed by the end of November or December, Public Works Department (PWD) XEN JS Sodhi said, “The fountain on Chowk Fawara will showcase cascading waterfall effect, a computerised project with animations. This will be complimented with beautification of the earmarked stretch.”

The pathways will be illuminated and kiosks displaying information such as weather update will also be put up. Electronic road signs will also be installed, Sodhi said.

A food court is also proposed to be developed opposite the Dharm Singh market.

Meanwhile, the government is spending Rs 53.55 crore on the development project to be undertaken from Hall Gate to the Golden Temple. Under this project, a façade of the walled city from Hall Gate to the Golden Temple is being changed.