New Delhi, February 5: India hopes to share a draft agreement on the Kartarpur corridor with Pakistan and complete legal modalities within a month.
Stakeholders concerned on the Indian side today held another round of high level meeting in North Block chaired by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba. The meeting meant to fast track the implementation of the project with deep religious significance for Sikh pilgrims ahead of the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, included Punjab Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh, BSF DG R K Misra, Indian high commissioner to Islamabad Ajay Bisaria and senior officials from coordinating agencies.
“We discussed all aspects of the agreement that we want to finalise with Pakistan. We are hopeful that we will send the draft proposal to Pakistan and complete legal modalities within a month,” said Karan Avatar Singh after the meeting.
According to officials land acquisition for the highway and for the Integrated Check Post (ICP) were key issues discussed. The ICP details are likely to be worked out and finalised by next week. National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) will be made available the land possession to commence preliminary work.
“Land acquisition work is in progress. This involves four stages. We are in the second stage as of now. We are hopeful that in a month and a half we will complete this process,” said Singh.
Sources added that while the preliminary notification for land acquisition for the highway has already been issued, the notification to acquire land for the ICP will be issued on Wednesday. “The Punjab government has assured that land will be made available for both the projects by mid-March,” sources said.
The officials were also updated that the coordinates of the zero point on the International Border was communicated to Islamabad a day after it shared its draft proposals on operationalising the nearly 4-km long corridor with New Delhi.
Pakistan appointed its Director-General (South Asia & SAARC) currently Mohammad Faisal as focal person on its side for leading discussions on the corridor sacred. India had earlier proposed February 26 and March 7 as optional dates for visit of Pakistan delegation to New Delhi to finalise the modalities of the corridor. “The two sides remain in touch on the issue,” said a Pakistani diplomat.
