Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday gave his nod for the construction of Guru Ravidass Memorial at Khuralgarh village in Hoshiarpur district.
Presiding over a high-level meeting to review the progress of the project, Badal gave final approval to the design and site plan prepared for the monument of revered saint. The Chief Minister directed the State Tourism Department to immediately float tenders to start construction work by November 2015 so that the monument must be dedicated to mankind positively by November 2016, said the official spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office.
He said that Badal also asked the Tourism Department to constitute a society on the lines of Jang-e-Azadi Foundation, which would further take administrative decisions regarding upkeep and maintenance of the memorial. For the same, Badal directed the Tourism Minister to be the chairman of this society and to induct members from the Executive Committee into this newly set up Society.
Chief Minister directed all the executing agencies to gear up their activities so that this memorial could be instrumental in propagating the philosophy and teachings of this great saint of the Bhakti Movement.
During the meeting elaborate presentation was given to the Chief Minister depicting the architectural plan, topography and landscaping of Guru Ravidass Memorial. Badal was appraised that once
completed, this memorial would have a spacious congregation hall having the capacity to accommodate 10,000 pilgrims, a state-of-the art auditorium equipped with all modern audio-visual aids to showcase life works of Guru Ravidass.
The auditorium would accommodate nearly 500 pilgrims during any function or event. It was informed that the Hallmark of this world class memorial would be a tall-erected structure ‘Minar-e-Begampura’ which would be of 151-feet high.
Saying that approach roads to this world class memorial must be strengthened to enable hassle-free access of the visitors, Badal directed the official of PWD and Mandi Board to immediately conduct a feasibility study of all three approach and link roads leading to this monument and put up case for strengthening and widening of these roads.