Anandpur Sahib, October 8 — The Punjab government has announced the long-awaited construction of a heritage road in front of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Gurdwara, one of Sikhism’s five Takhts, ending a 55-year delay since the project’s foundation was laid in 1970.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said his government had taken up the long-pending work “to honour the sanctity of this historic site and ensure comfort for lakhs of devotees.” The move marks the first concrete effort to complete the project, which successive governments had failed to prioritize.
Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, where Guru Gobind Singh Ji founded the Khalsa Panth in 1699, holds immense spiritual and historical significance for Sikhs worldwide. Yet, despite repeated promises over decades, the road project remained incomplete.
Officials said the heritage road will enhance access to the shrine and boost connectivity across Anandpur Sahib. The government expects the project to improve local trade, promote tourism, and generate new employment opportunities in the region.
“For over five decades, devotees had to endure broken roads and congestion during festivals like Hola Mohalla and Vaisakhi,” an official from the Public Works Department said. “The Chief Minister’s directions are clear — the work must begin and finish within a defined timeframe.”
Previous administrations, including both the Akali-BJP alliance and the Congress government, had made development pledges around Takht Sahib but failed to deliver. “Past governments only made announcements in the name of heritage preservation. This government has shown intent through action,” said a senior official.
Mann reiterated that his administration’s focus was on tangible results. “People’s money will be used for people’s work — not for corruption or political spectacle,” he noted, underscoring that the revival of the heritage road project reflected his government’s broader push to preserve Punjab’s cultural and religious identity.
Residents and devotees in Anandpur Sahib welcomed the announcement. “This road is not just a route — it’s part of our faith’s legacy,” said Harjit Singh, a local resident. “After so many years of neglect, we finally see hope that it will be completed.”
With the project revived after 55 years, the Mann government has positioned it as both an act of heritage restoration and a step toward regional development — a move that many in the Sikh community see as long overdue.
