Chandigarh: Punjab minister Harjot Singh Bains on Wednesday met Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari in Delhi to demand four-laning of roads connecting significant religious places such as Kiratpur Sahib, Anandpur Sahib and Naina Devi to facilitate pilgrim movement.
Bains said detailed project reports (DPRs) were ready. He stressed the need for four-laning the road from Kiratpur Sahib to Himachal Pradesh’s Una district border at Mahitpur. The minister proposed a 50km greenfield expressway from Anandpur Sahib to Chamkaur Sahib to connect Himachal Pradesh with Ludhiana in Punjab. “If this 50km-long expressway is constructed, it will connect Ropar-Ludhiana highway and Kiratpur-Manali highway,” said Bains, suggesting naming this road Guru Gobind Singh Expressway.
Bains, who was with Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, highlighted the historical and geographical significance of Anandpur Sahib and discussed the region’s need for roads. An official said Gadkari had expressed his approval for four-laning the Kiratpur Sahib, Banga-Anandpur Sahib roads and laying a greenfield expressway from Anandpur Sahib to Chamkaur Sahib.