CHANDIGARH; Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Wednesday constituted a 8-member panel of eminent historians, academicians and scholars in Sikh history as well as geographical experts to identify and delineate the path on which the Tenth Guru of Sikhs Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji traveled from Sri Anandpur Sahib to Sachkhand Sri Hazoor Sahib Nanded.  

This would be the first national highway to connect three of the five holy Takhats of the Sikhs, Takhat Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Takhat Sri Damdama Sahib and Takhat Sri Sachkhand Hazoor Sahib.   

A decision to this effect was taken by  Badal at a meeting with PWD (B&R) Minister  Parminder Singh Dhindsa held here this evening.   The members of the committee would be Balwant Singh Dhillon from GNDU, Amritsar, Waryam Singh, Secretary SGPC, Niranjan Singh Sathi, a veteran journalist of Ajit, Piara Singh Behans from Rajasthan,  Dalbir Singh Dhillon, Chairman Punjab School Education Board, Mewa Singh from Punjabi University Patiala and Gurnaib Singh.

The Chief Minister asked the members of the panel to finalize the route to provide basic inputs and background about the historical sites on the entire route to enable the department to put up reflective boards depicting brief history along with painted photographs about these sites for the information of general public. Badal also mentioned that aesthetically designed bold milestones along this route would be re-installed besides the plantation of new trees would be undertaken in consultation with the state Forest and Horticulture departments.   

Badal revealed that he would take up the matter with the Chief Ministers of other states to declare the route on which the tenth master of Sikhs traveled in their respective states as 'Guru Gobind Singh Marg' upto Takht Sri Hazoor Sahib, Nanded, Maharastra, once the committee submit its final report on the proposed route.  

Earlier, Badal had a detailed discussion with Principal Secretary Finance DS Kalha for the upgradation of infrastructure and civic amenities like drinking water, street lighting, sewerage facility and uninterrupted power supply at Sri Anandpur Sahib and Talwandi Sabo under a special development plan as a part of the celebrations on 'Gurta Gaddi Diwas'.  Kalha informed the Chief Minister that the Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (IL&FS) has been entrusted with the task of preparing a detailed project report for these two historic towns.   He said that IL&FS would submit the report positively by September 15 to the state government to enable it to take up further with GoI for seeking funds for the commemoration of this great historic event.  

Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included President SGPC Jathedar Avtar Singh Makkar, MLA Sri Anandpur Sahib Sant Baba Ajit Singh, Senior Akali leader from Talwandi Sabo Amarjit Singh Sidhu, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister DS Guru, Secretary PWD (B&R) Karan Avtar Singh, Special Secretary to Chief Minister Sukbir Singh Sandhu and Additional principal Secretary to Chief Minister Gagandeep Singh Brar.