Amritsar, July 10
Administration makes up mind to start work on open plaza, beautification and visitors’ facilitation centre
AFTER A LOT of delay and carrying the tag of being ‘incomplete’ for years, – the . Much-hyped Galliara project sees a ray of hope as the construction phase of the final stage of this project is set to kick off soon.
It may be mentioned that years after the inception of the idea, the much-hyped beautification plan- of Harmandar Sahib (also know as the Galliara Project Scheme) had continued to carry the tag of being incomplete.
A brainchild of the Union Government and announced way back in 1988, the idea aimed at removing the narrow lanes and shops around Harmandar Sahib and constructing a green belt around it, where no vehicle or any sort of congestion is permitted.
And to go ahead with the entire work, the project was decided to be completed-in five phases but nearly 15 years have gone by, and the Rs 70 crore project is still hanging fire and carries the tag of being incomplete.
Phase IV and V to kickoff
Notably, three phases of this Union Government project have been completed but the most important ones, Phase IV and V that come on the front side of Harmandar Sahib, are still incomplete.
Coming as good news, the District Administration has decided to commence with the most important fourth phase of this project.
It may be mentioned that the fifth phase, which includes parking lots (including the massive Saragarhi parking), is already on and is likely to start soon. Helpdesk for visitors
The much a waited fourth phase, which is to be built opposite Harmandar Sahib and had seen glitches over the years, is all set to start soon.
Apart from removal of the shops from that place, a lot of beautification, including an open plaza and visitor’s facilitation centre, will be built.
Detailing on this, Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu, who is in-charge of this project, said, “To come up with this fourth beautification phase of the Galliara project, we have convinced the shopkeepers and got the shops vacated. All these shopkeepers have been rehabilitated in the new market built nearby.
Firstly, the vacated market will be demolished. And, apart from giving it a green cover and Galliara roads, the area will be used to build an Open Plaza opposite Harmandar Sahib. In the basement, an ultra modern visitors’ facilitation centre will be set up pro viding many facilities to the visitors.”
Maintain heritage
Apart from this, all the old doors and windows that get destroyed as a result of the demolition will be conserved for heritage, he said.
Detailing further, the DC said, ‘~ Israel-based designer-cum-architect is visiting Amritsar to give us a detailed presentation regarding the fourth phase. The area will become a totally vehicle-free zone after this phase is complete. The fifth phase, comprising parking lots, will also be completed soon.”
The DC further said, “The work of beautification opposite Harmandar Sahib will be done at a quick pace and will be completed soon.”
Plaza, fountains to add beauty
XEN, Galliara, J.S. Sandhu said, ”Apart from the Galliara Road and the beautiful greenery, the Open Plaza and musical fountains will add to the beauty of the place. We have already received a total of Rs t 68.65 crore for this entire project. It will be comp he added.
We are going to tart the demolition work of market r opposite Harmandar sahib soon and once the -of this fourth phase is accepted, t the work will kick he I added. The official added that attractive plants and flowers will be· added to Galliara outside Harmandar Sahib ·and will not allow any vehicle· to come near the holy site, he added.
Long time, no work
It is pertinent to note that to realize this idea of Galliara project, many people along with their shops and residential accommodation were uprooted from the area around Harmandar Sahib and shifted to other places in the city. They were given compensation and adjusted somewhere else to make way for the project. Not only these people were uprooted but also major damage was done to heritage value at some instances. .
It may be mentioned that few old and historical buildings were also brought down to make way for this Union Government project but it is unfortunate to see that, with 15 years gone, this project is still away from completion.
But, with the District officials no getting the major market opposite Harmandar Sahib vacated, this project is seeing a ray of hope yet again.
Apart from this, the Administration also needs to look into the maintenance of the three completed phases of this Galliara project. Apart from cleanliness, ‘pheriwalas’ coming to some places is also an issue.
