CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government Wednesday decided to develop the historic and holy city of Sultanpur Lodhi as a major global destination for religious tourism.

The government has cleared the decks for the planned development of the city by bringing it within the ambit of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning as Development Act 1955. Several adjoining villages would also form a part of the master plan for the project.

The Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has already constituted a Special Steering Committee for clearing the Kali Bein to facilitate this project. The committee is headed by P. Ram, Principal Secretary Industrial Training and Technical Education.

The Chief Minister in a statement here said that devotees form across the globe had been urging the government to undertake planned development of the holy city. The final plan for the accelerated development of the city would be prepared by the Department of Housing & Urban Development, Punjab.

The City where the first Guru of the Sikhs Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji had received the revelation of Jap Ji Sahib is the centre of religious devotion for millions of Sikhs all over the world. The State Education Minister  Upinder Jit Kaur in whose constituency this city falls played a major role in clearance of this project.

The villages that had been included in this local planning area of Sultanpur Lodhi are Machhi Jow, Alahdad Chak, Gazipur, Randhirpur, Karamjit Pur Gijli Daira Saidan, Taraf Behbal Bahadpur, Taraf Hazi.

A total of 2912 hectares had been included for local planning. Of this 392.46 hectares fall within the municipal limit of Sultanpur Lodhi.