Rs 6 crore tourist reception centre in Anandpur Sahib lies abandoned

Built with grand intentions and a hefty price tag of Rs 6 crore, the state-of-the-art tourist reception centre in Anandpur Sahib now stands abandoned, locked and unused for over six months. Designed to serve as a gateway for pilgrims and tourists visiting the historic Sikh town and the nearby Hindu shrine of Naina Devi, the centre was expected to be a vibrant hub offering hospitality and guidance to travellers. Instead, it has become a symbol of bureaucratic inertia and failed planning.

Located on the bustling Anandpur Sahib-Ropar National Highway, adjacent to the city’s main bus stand, the centre boasts modern amenities, a cafeteria, designated space for gift shops and office areas meant to assist and inform visitors. However, despite its prime location and design, the centre remains lifeless.

According to official sources, efforts have been made by the district administration and tourism department to breathe life into the project. The plan was to outsource the facility’s operations to private players. However, three rounds of tendering have failed to attract any bidders. As a result, the grand facility which could have served thousands of visitors every year lies under lock and key.

When contacted, Ropar Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Singh Walia said that they have floated tenders three times, but unfortunately, no one has come forward to operate it. “We have now proposed to the state government that a library be set up in the building,” he said.

The administration believes that a public library could draw regular footfall, which in turn might revive commercial viability for the cafeteria and adjoining shops. “If people come for the library, the cafeteria and other services could sustain themselves,” Walia added.

The abandoned reception centre is not just an infrastructural failure but a missed opportunity for promoting religious tourism in the region. Anandpur Sahib, the birthplace of the Khalsa, holds deep significance in Sikh history and attracts lakhs of devotees — especially during major religious events. Similarly, Naina Devi, located just 20 km away in Himachal Pradesh, draws thousands of Hindu pilgrims every month.

With the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur approaching in November, the administration is under pressure to put the facility to use. There is hope that by then, either the library proposal will materialise or the government will find an alternative use to ensure the centre finally opens its doors to the public.

Until then, the tourist reception centre remains a glaring example of how even well-intentioned public projects can fall victim to poor execution and lack of foresight.

Punjab