The Mirror to India’s International ImageShri Amritsar Sahib is not merely a regional city; it is the spiritual heartbeat of the global Sikh community and a vital site of the Ramayana circuit. It is the global face of India for millions of pilgrims and international tourists. However, as we approach the historic 450th Foundation Day in 2027, the current state of the city is a source of national embarrassment and a “black mark” on India’s tourism profile.
Recent observations and videos of tourists on social media, alongside the daily woes of citizens, reveal the pitiable conditions of the city. Traffic jams, “Severe” air pollution, unclean drinking water, garbage dumps, overflowing sewage, and a total collapse of the urban infrastructure define the landscape. A few months ago, the Punjab government came out with full-page advertisements asking for suggestions regarding the commemoration of the 450th Foundation Day. Yet, no concrete plans, blueprints, or any work can be seen. Incomplete flyovers for half a decade, chimneys spewing smoke, and choked drains are some of the “welcome signs” into the city.
Amritsar was, and remains, the BJP’s primary gateway into Punjab. With the 2027 elections on the horizon, the Central Government has a historic opportunity to intervene, restore the city’s sanctity, and deliver the “Double Engine” promise.
This is a litmus test for the “Modi Model” of governance where the Center succeeds where the local establishment has failed. Right now is the time, if the Center is really interested.
What Requires Immediate Attention:
Erasure of Heritage: The 12 historical Darwazas (and Hall Gate) are buried under unregulated construction; ancient Katras and Mandis have vanished, erasing the city’s architectural identity.
Environmental Decay: 24/7 industrial smoke, “poisonous” underground water, and toxic Nallahs (reminiscent of Ludhiana’s Buddha Darya) have created a public health crisis.
Infrastructure Failure:
Stalled flyovers, faulty futuristic planning (like the overshadowed Golden Gate), and rotting BRT corridors reflect an insensitive, unaccountable system.
Traffic Anarchy:
Main roads are choked by vendors and unregulated e-rickshaws, while a lack of arterial roads and unplanned school-hour parking cause perennial jams.
Governance Collapse: Mushrooming colonies pump untreated sewage into drains; competing departments lack accountability, leading to a city unworthy of district headquarters status.
Civic & Green Deficit:
Rapid tree-cutting, a shortage of green spaces, and roadside garbage define the landscape, while a silent public fails to demand better.
How to go about it:
The “Amritsar 450” PMO Special Project
Establishment of a Special PMO Cell:
Create a dedicated oversight task force under the Prime Minister’s Office with a Special Funding Project (autonomous and non-schematic). This bypasses the inefficiency of local municipal bodies and ensures the city is treated as a “National Strategic Heritage Asset.”
The “Nirmal Sarovar” & “Pavan Guru” Mission: Launch a mission-mode project for 100% clean drinking water and a “Zero-Pollution Zone” around the city. Rooted in the Gurbani philosophy “Pavan Guru Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat” this will restore the city’s air and water quality to its original “Nectar” (Amrit) status.
The Valmiki Ashram: Ram Titath
The Valmiki Ashram, Ram Tirath, connected with the Ramayana just close to the city, now almost within it. This is sacred land where Luv and Kush were born. The government can celebrate a unified heritage, making the city a global center for spirituality.
International Aesthetic Restoration
Execute a total beautification of the city, and the Walled City in particular, removing the “visual pollution” of hanging wires, garbage dumps, and traffic chaos. Restore the 12 Historic Gates (the 13th being Hall Gate, a British legacy) and the original trading hubs like Batisi Hatta (the legendary 32-trader market) to their 16th-century architectural grandeur.
Positive Changes it Will Bring
Reclaiming the Gateway (2027):
By announcing this intervention now and completing it by early 2027, the BJP can present a “Gold Standard” of governance. It demonstrates that while others talk about the Gurus’ legacy, the Center actually honours it through tangible development, making the city a permanent springboard for the 2027 bid.
A Centuries-Long Legacy:
By solving the “pitiable” sanitation and pollution crises, Prime Minister Modi can leave a legacy of Virasat and Swachhata that will be remembered for centuries.
Economic Empowerment:
A world-class spiritual corridor will exponentially increase high-spending international tourism, revitalizing the local trader community, the backbone of the city’s economy who feel abandoned by current local leadership.
This will also be a testament to the fact that while founding the city, the Guru had arranged for traders to settle here, and the city has the distinction of having different mandis (markets) established separately.
How to Implement:
The “Mission Mode” Challenge
Immediate Announcement & Central Oversight:
The Central Government should announce the “Amritsar 450” Masterplan immediately, setting a strict one year “hard deadline” for completion.
The PMO Cell must take direct control of monitoring stalled sewerage and bridge projects.
A Test of India’s Capabilities: Use this as a challenge to the Indian bureaucracy and politicians: a time-bound, high-speed transformation of the city’s core infrastructure. It is a test of how fast they can deliver when under a direct Central mandate.
Legacy Branding: Every phase of the restoration should be branded as a “Gift from the Union to the People of Punjab,” ensuring the message of Central care reaches every household before the 2027 polls. Success here will show the world that India can manage its heritage with the same precision as any global power. It will enable the people of Punjab to see firsthand what the Center can deliver. On the other hand, ritual celebrations and speeches will only expose apathy and intentions . It will be a missed,
golden opportunity for BJP to administrate the