AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—Although the Shiromani Akali Dal led Punjab government has spent hundred millions from the public funds of state for the beautification of area surrounding sanctum sanctorum Sri Harmandir Sahib but the ignorance of project planners towards tiny points has become a big obstacle the handicapped and old aged devotees.
While going through the newly built Heritage Walk street, it could be easily felt that by restricting the entry of vehicles into the street, the planners have not considered the handicapped or disabled and old aged devotees. The steel pillars installed at start of Heritage walk in front of Gurdwara Saragarhi Sahib doesn’t allow the disabled devotees to enter into heritage walk with their tricycles.
Besides avoiding construction of public toilet on the way in Heritage Walk Street, 12 old public toilets were also demolished during construction of the street. Thousands of devotees reach the Golden Temple via Hall Bazaar, Sultanwind Gate Road, Sheranwala Gate Road, Burj Akali Phoola Singh road and Ghee Mandi, Gurdwara Shaheedan market. In the absence of any washroom, pilgrims face great inconvenience as the distance from all historical gates from where the way to Golden Temple starts, is not less.
Speaking to Sikh24, a septuagenarian Sikh devotee Fauja Singh said that he was not able to walk freely for being suffering from problem in his knees. He added that he has come to pay obeisance at the central Sikh shrine after four years but unfortunately his efforts have in vain. ‘The Punjab government has done a good work by constructing the Heritage walk street but it should also pay attention to address the problem of old aged and disabled persons’ he maintained.
On being contacted by Sikh24, SGPC President’s personal secretary S. Sukhdev Singh Bhoora Kohna admitted that the installation of steel pillars have barred the entry of disabled devotees along with their tricycles.
It will be good to create a separate walkway, on the side, to enable diabled and the elderly to get in; alternatively, have a separate entry for such individuals, issuing special permits to them, and also for the vehicles that transport these individuals. Have these registered.