As a part of its plan to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of the Sikhs’ first master, the Punjab Government has decided to rename as ‘Guru Nanak Marg’ the road or roads linking various places across the state, which had been blessed with the visits of Guru Nanak Dev.

The Government has also decided to take up these places for special development, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh announced on Friday, while chairing a meeting of the Executive Committee constituted to finalize the modalities for the celebrations to be held on a global scale.

He also constituted a high-level committee to coordinate with various organizations, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), to build public support for the mega celebration, which will be centered around the theme of ‘Nanak Naam Chardikala, Tere Bhane Sarbat Da Bhala’ — the essence of Guru Nanak Dev’s ideology of all pervasive love, harmony, peace, compassion and amity.

The committee has been tasked with collaborating with eminent experts and historians, as well as representatives of SGPC and Sant Samaj. The committee comprises Cultural Affairs and Tourism Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, Cooperation Minister and Dera Baba Nanak Mla Sukhjinder Singh Randhaw and Sultanpur lodhi Mla Navtej Singh Cheema.

Capt Amarinder said that he would soon write to his counterparts in other states, urging them to undertake special development of infrastructure in places visited by Guru Nanak Dev.

“I would also urge the Chief Ministers of these states to make suitable arrangements to facilitate devotees visiting their respective states, or those desirous of visiting Punjab from their states during the commemorative celebrations,” he said.

He said that he would also exhort the Union Ministry of External Affairs to take up the issue of sprucing up of religious shrines, associated with Guru Nanak Dev, with appropriate authorities in various countries visited by the first Sikh Guru.