Nitish Kumar reviews preparations for 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh in Patna Saheb

PATNA: From sprucing up Ganga riverfront at the historic Kangan Ghat to widening and renovation of roads and streets, Patna city area - where the famous Sikh shrine Takht Sri Harmandirji Saheb is located - is undergoing a major facelift these days as over 10 lakh pilgrims from across the world are expected here during the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh in January 2017.
Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last Sikh Guru was born on December 22, 1666 in Patna city area of Bihar’s capital. As his birth anniversary is celebrated as per Sikh’s religious calendar, his 350th birth anniversary will be celebrated on January 5 nest year.
As people especially Sikh pilgrims from almost all parts of India and foreign countries like Canada, the UK, the US, Mauritius, Australia and South Africa are expected to converge here, a temporary tent city has also been planned, besides increasing rooms in the city based guest houses. The railways is opening a new railway station at Patna Ghat in between Patna Sahib and Gulzarbagh stations to clear the rush and also constructing of a new road overbridge (ROB) near Chowk Shikarpur.
Reviewing the state government’s preparations for 350th Praksh Utasav celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh at a meeting, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Friday asked the senior officials to ensure timely completion of all ongoing renovation projects.
He asked the official for development and beautification of Ganga riverfront at Kangan Ghat and construction of sufficient sitting facilities at the ghat for the visiting pilgrims.
Senior officials of different departments gave presentations on preparations to the CM and assured him that all necessary works would be completed before the time. Making a detailed presentation about the preparations, Divisional Commissioner, Patna, Anand Kishor informed the CM that altogether 14 cells had been constituted under senior officials to look into different aspects of preparations for the event. Kishor said the Patna city area had been divided into 12 zones for close monitoring of the ongoing construction and beautification works.
Principal Secretary (Tourism) Harjot Kaur Bamhara informed the CM that tourist information centres would be opened at Patna Junction and also at Patna Sahib railway station for convenience of pilgrims. She said a similar tourist information centre would be set up at Kangan Ghat.
State’s tourism minister Anita Devi also was present in the meeting. Nitish was also informed that an International Sikh conclave would be organised in Patna during the occasion.
CM also reviewed preparations for the upcoming centenary celebration of Champaran Satyagrah of Mahatama Gandhi next year, at the same meeting. He asked the Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh and other senior officers to make preparations for Champaran Satyagrah centenary celebration in such a grand way that visitors from outside get a good impression about the state.