SGPC to construct 1,500-room sarai near Golden Temple

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 19

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has decided to expand accommodation facilities for sangat, which visit the city to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple.

During the SGPC’s executive committee meeting on Tuesday, SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, approved the construction of a new sarai (1,500 rooms). The sarai would be constructed at Hansli near Gheo Mandi Chowk.

The SGPC chief said ‘kar sewa’ of the new sarai has been entrusted to Baba Kashmir Singh Bhuriwale and its construction would begin on November 1.

“A parking lot will be built on the ground floor of the five-storey building and a store will also be developed for storing ration offered by sangat for Sri Guru Ramdas Langar Kitchen. Moreover, the old building of Sri Guru Ramdas School near Gurdwara Sri Ramsar Sahib will be restored,” she said.

New jora and gathri ghar

A newly-built jora and gathri ghar (shoe and cloak house) for the convenience of sangat was inaugurated today.

The jora and gathri ghar near Gurdwara Sri Manji Sahib Diwan Hall has been developed by the SGPC.

Bibi Jagir Kaur said the SGPC was constantly working for the convenience of sangat. She said the SGPC in association with Kar Seva Bhuriwale, has expanded the jora ghar and gathri ghar, which has a capacity to keep shoes of around 20,000 pilgrims. The SGPC chief honoured Baba Kashmir Singh Bhuriwale and others with siropas.

SGPC employees get DA hike

The SGPC approved 3 per cent increase in the dearness allowance (DA) of employees of the SGPC. Apart from the 3 per cent increase in the DA, a special allowance of Rs 1,000 would be given to those employees who have salary up to Rs 20,000, and Rs 500 to those with salaries between Rs 20,000 and Rs 40,000.

Bibi Jagir Kaur said despite financial crisis due to the pandemic, salaries of SGPC employees were paid. She also lauded the work done by the employees to tackle the Covid.

SGPC executive also recited ‘Moolmantra’ and ‘Gurmantra’ to pay tributes to SGPC member Jathedar Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Hakim Satnam Singh, who was killed in Pakistan, Ragi Bhai Surinder Singh Jodhpuri, Principal Supinder Kaur, who was killed in Srinagar, and farmers who were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri.