Kartarpur Corridor Opening: Guru Nanak Dev had spent more than 18 years at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.
The Kartarpur Corridor, connecting the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur, Punjab to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan, was inaugurated today, allowing Sikh pilgrims in India year round access to one of their holiest sites. As part of the Kartarpur Corridor inauguration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the first procession of over 500 pilgrims on the Indian side while his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan declared it open at the other end.
The Kartarpur Corridor opening marks the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, founder of Sikhism. The corridor is being inaugurated almost a year after the foundation stone for was laid down.
PM Modi today inaugurated the Integrated Check Post, a passenger terminal building where pilgrims will get clearance to travel through the 4.5 km-long corridor. The design of the state-of-the-art passenger terminal building is inspired by "Khanda", a symbol of faith in the Sikh community.
The fully air-conditioned building has over 50 immigration counters for facilitating about 5,000 pilgrims a day.
The project was executed by central government agency -- Land Ports Authority of India. It has all the necessary public amenities such as kiosks, washrooms, child care, first aid medical facilities, prayer room and snacks counters inside the main building.
India had signed an agreement with Pakistan on October 24 on the modalities for operationalisation of the corridor at ''Zero Point'' of the international boundary at Dera Baba Nanak.
Here are the live updates of the Kartarpur Corridor opening:
Navjot Singh Sidhu thanked PM Modi at the inaugral ceremony of Kartarpur Corridor in Pakistan"I am thanking Modi
ji also, it doesn't matter if we have political differences,doesn't matter if my life is dedicated to Gandhi family, I am sending a Munnabhai MBBS style hug to you Modi
sahab for this," said Navjot Singh Sidhu, reported news agency ANI.
Punjab Chief Minister hopes Kartarpur Corridor will eventually be a "corridor of peace""It was a really good experience, I hope the corridor will eventually become a corridor of peace between the two countries," said Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, as reported by news agency ANI.
"It was a good beginning, India-Pakistan relations are subject to many buts and ifs, I hope this is a good beginning to normalise our relation," former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said after his visit, reported news agency ANI. He was a part of the official delegation visiting the Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan.
PM Modi's Guided Tour Of The Passenger Terminal Building
Kartarpur Corridor Live News: PM Modi Presented Siri Sahib By Amarinder Singh, Top Sikh Body"Blessed to have had the opportunity of witnessing the opening of historic Kartarpur Corridor. Along with SGPC (Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee) presented Siri Sahib and other memorabilia of 550 Prakash Purab to Narendra Modi," the Punjab Chief Minister tweeted
Kartarpur Corridor Gives Us opportunity to take Guru Nanak's message to every home: Parkash Singh Badal
"Today is historic and pure. Guru Nanak Dev ji''s 550th Birth Anniversary is being celebrated across the world with reverence. Our prayers have been answered today due to our Prime Minister and our Akal Takht. With the opening of the road, we get the opportunity to take Guru Nanak's message to every home," says the former Punjab Chief Minister
Kartarpur Corridor Inauguration Live: Ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Arrives At Integrated Check Post Former PM Manmohan Singh, who is part of the official delegation visiting the Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan, arrived at the Intergrated Check Post where he was received by Congress MP Preneet Kaur.
"Greeted Former PM Manmohan Singh Ji at Integrated check post at Kartarpur Corridor. With Guru ji's grace long standing prayers of Sikh's of 'Khulle Darshan' of Kartarpur Sahib is going to be fulfilled in few moments. Looking forward to paying my respects at Kartarpur Sahib" Preneet Kaur, a former Minister, tweeted.
Kartarpur Corridor Opening: Guru Nanak Dev ji Embedded In The Air, Soil Of Kartarpur, Says PM Modi
"Kartarpur was not only the place where Guru Nanak Dev spent most his life, but the smell of sweat of Guru Nanak Dev ji is found in every particle of Kartapur. His voice echoes in the air of Kartarpur," says Prime Minister at the inauguration of the Integrated Check Post of the Kartarpur Corridor
Kartarpur Corridor Inauguration: Guru Nanak Dev An Inspiration For Humanity, Says PM Modi"The opening of the Integrated Check Post, Kartarpur Sahib Corridor ahead of the the 550th Prakash Utsav of Guru Nanak Dev has brought double the happiness to all of us.
Guru Nanak Dev is not only part of Sikh, Indian heritage, but is an inspiration for the whole of humanity," says Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Kartarpur Corridor Opening: Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Will Now Become Easily Accessible To Pilgrims, Says PM"After the construction of this corridor, Gurudwara Darbar Sahib (in Kartarpur, Pakistan) will become easily accessible to Sikh pilgrims. I express my gratitude to the Punjab Government, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and every partner who helped built this corridor in due time": PM Modi
Kartarpur Corridor Opening: PM Modi Congratulate All "Sikh Brothers And Sisters" On Inauguration of Kartarpur Corridor"I heartily congratulate all of you, all Sikh brothers and sisters in the country and the world on the inauguration of the Kartarpur Corridor," says Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
PM Modi At The Inauguration Of Integrated Check Post of Kartarpur Corridor"Today, on this holy land, I am feeling blessed. It is my good fortunate that I am dedicating the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor to the country today," says PM Modi at the inauguration of Integrated Check Post of the Kartarpur Corridor
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal (Left) and BJP MP from Gurdaspur Sunny Deol (Right) at the Dera Baba Nanak.
PM will see off Sikh pilgrims travelling to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan shortly.
Kartarpur Corridor Inauguration: Navjot Singh Sidhu arrived at Integrated Check PostCongress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu arrived at Integrated Check Post of the Kartarpur Corridor, news agency ANI reported.
Mr Sidhu had sought permission to attend the Pakistan inaugural event on three occasions, and his request was cleared on Thursday.
The Punjab Congress MLA was invited to the event by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was his contemporary on the cricketing field in the 1980s
Prime Minister At Dera Baba Nanak Shrine In GurdaspurPM Modi arrived in Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district. He met former Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal
Kartarpur Corridor Inauguration: First Delegation Of Sikh Pilgrims Arrive In PakFirst 'Jatha' or delegation of Sikh pilgrims from India arrive in Pakistan through the Kartarpur Corridor, news agency ANI reports.
PM Modi will inaugurate the Integrated Check Post in Gurdaspur, today.
Watch: Prime Minister Modi At Ber Sahib Gurdwara
Kartarpur Corridor Opening: PM Modi Posts Pictures Of His Visit To Ber Sahib Gurdwara
PM Modi At Ber Sahib Gurdwara In Sultanpur Lodhi, Punjab: 5 Points- Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accompanied by Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator VP Singh Badnore, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal
- PM Modi spent nearly 20 minutes at the Gurdwara and listened to the 'kirtan' (devotional song)
- Over five lakh devotees paid obeisance at Gurudwara Ber Sahib today
- Guru Nanak Dev had spent 14 years of his early life at Sultanpur Lodhi and used to take daily bath in the holy Kali Bein
- Sultanpur Lodhi city is decked up with flowers, hoardings and several colourful gates to welcome the pilgrims
(inputs from news agency PTI) Kartarpur Corridor Inauguration: PIB Posts Video Of PM Modi and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal at Gurudwara Ber Sahib
More Visuals Of PM Modi At The Ber Sahib Gurudwara
Kartarpur Corridor Opening: PM Modi Pays Obeisance At Ber Sahib GurudwaraPrime Minister Narendra Modi pays in obeisance at the Ber Sahib Gurudwara in Sultanpur Lodhi. Later in the day, he is scheduled to inaugurate the Kartarpur Corridor
Kartarpur Corridor Opening: PM Modi Arrives At Sultanpur LodhiPM Modi arrived at Sultanpur Lodhi in helicopter. He was received by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Union Minister Harisimrat Kaur Badal (not in picture).
Kartarpur Corridor Opening: PM Modi Arrives At Ber Sahib GurudwaraPrime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at Amritsar Airport. He will pay obeisance at the Ber Sahib Gurudwara in Sultanpur Lodhi, Punjab -- about 170 km from Chandigarh.
