India wants bridge over creek in Kartarpur corridor path while Pak differs

Sandeep Dikshit
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 12

India will impress on Pakistan the need for a bridge over a creek in the path of the Kartarpur corridor in order to make pilgrimage to Gurdwara Nankana Sahib a round-the-year event.

The differences of opinion over a bridge causeway are among the issues that Indian and Pakistani officials will attempt to thrash out at the second official round of talks on the Kartarpur corridor to be held at Wagah on Sunday.

As the disagreement over the crossing for the 330-m creek of the Ravi may delay the connection, India is also set to propose an interim solution—of connecting the service roads on its bridge with the Pakistani road just above the creek level in order to get the corridor going by the time celebrations for Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary begin in November.

India is trying to persuade Pakistan to opt for a bridge also because land around Dera Baba Nanak may become vulnerable to flooding thereby leaving the pilgrims stranded.

“Causeways are not considered good engineering. Flooding in the monsoon is a concern,” said a government source.

Sources were confident that the two major works on the Indian side will be completed before the celebrations begin.

Final inspection of an airport-like passenger terminal with over 50 immigration counter will be held on October 31, while the road from the Gurdaspur-Dera Baba Nanak highway would have to be completed even earlier.

The officials will also discuss the number of pilgrims to be permitted on daily basis, documents required for the purpose and the manner of journey to the gurdwara.

Sources said India would deploy high-tech surveillance system and security apparatus.

“That is not negotiable,” sources added.

Both sides have differences over the number of pilgrims allowed to go for darshan. India wants at least 5,000 pilgrims every day, while Pakistan has suggested only 750.

The meeting will also see the Indian side reiterating its concerns over the active involvement of Khalistani sympathiser Gopal Singh Chawla in Pakistan’s preparations for the corridor project.