Visuals have come out showing the progress of the Indian side of the proposed Kartarpur corridor. According to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (EAM), the Indian government is confident of meeting the deadline. 

Meeting the deadline

Last month, while greeting the nation on the occasion of Parkash Purab of Guru Granth Sahib, Home Minister Amit Shah had reiterated the commitment of the Narendra Modi government to complete the work on the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor within the given time frame. 

A week ago, during MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar's press brief, the spokesperson stated that the Indian side of the corridor is on schedule.

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Kartarpur corridor

Pakistan is building the corridor from the Indian border to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur while the other part from Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district up to the border will be constructed by India. Both countries have agreed that Pakistan would allow 5,000 Sikh visitors per day into the country through the corridor, which will also be the first visa-free corridor between the two neighbours since their independence in 1947.

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Pakistan side

In Pakistan, Project Director Atif Majid told the visiting journalists that so far 86% of the work on the corridor has been completed and it will be opened on November 9. Majid said the development work will be completed by next month. The corridor will connect Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district of Punjab and facilitate visa-free movement of Indian pilgrims, who will have to just obtain a permit to visit Kartarpur Sahib, which was established in 1522 by Sikh faith founder Guru Nanak Dev.

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76 immigration counters have been set up

Majid further said some 76 immigration counters have been set up to cater to 5,000 Sikh pilgrims from India every day. Moreover, for 10,000 pilgrims visiting here daily, 152 immigration counters will be set up. He said that initially, 5,000 Sikhs from India will come daily and later the number will rise to 10,000. The tension between India and Pakistan has escalated after New Delhi revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status. Reacting to India's move on Kashmir, Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with New Delhi and expelled the Indian High Commissioner. Pakistan, however, repeatedly said that the opening of the Kartarpur corridor will not be hit by the current tension with India. 

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(With inputs from agencies)