NEW DELHI: PM Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Kartarpur corridor, flagging off the first batch of over 500 Indian pilgrims.About 8,000-10,000 pilgrims are expected to arrive from around the world to mark Guru Nanak’s 550th birthday on November 12.PM Modi on Saturday thanked his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan for respecting the sentiments of India.
PM Modi inaugurated the passenger terminal building, also known as Integrated Check Post, where pilgrims will get clearance to travel through the newly-built corridor.PM Modi also release a special coin and postal stamps on the occasion.
The 4.5 km-long corridor connects Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab’s Gurdaspur with Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, a small town about 4 km from the International Border, located at Narowal district of Pakistan’s Punjab province.
Former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh led the first delegation of Sikh pilgrims as they crossed into Pakistan through the Kartarpur Corridor.
The first batch of pilgrims included Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal and Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Former Indian cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu earlier addressed the ceremony, thanking Prime Minister Imran for taking the bold step to build the Kartarpur Corridor “without looking at gains or losses”.
