From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Apr 3: A delegation led by former Chief Minister and Bidar MP, N Dharam Singh, called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and demanded release of Rs 400 crore from the Prime Minster’s Fund to develop Bidar as a pilgrim city.

Gurudwara Nanak Jhira Saheb is a leading and historical Sikh shrine situated in Bidar, which is visited by thousands of pilgrims daily.

But the town has no required infrastructure facilities to accommodate pilgrims, Dharam Singh said.

To develop the town, a sum of Rs. 400 crore was sought from the Prime Minister’s fund, the memorandum submitted by the former chief minister to the Prime Minister said.

The Gurudwara Jhira Nanak Prabhandhak Committee has decided to celebrate 500 years of “Jhira Pragat Samagam” in Bidar from April 27 to 29.

About 10 lakh pilgrims are expected to participate in the religious programme, the memorandum said urging the Prime Minister to sanction the special grant for developing Bidar as a pilgrim city.

The delegation comprised MLAs Eshwar Khandre, Rajshekhar Patil, Rahim Khan, Bandeppa Khashampur and Gurudwara Jhira Nanak Prabhandhak Committee President Balbir Singh, as well as former MLA Gundappa Vakil.
 

Train services:
 
For the benefit of pilgrims visiting Bidar from north India, Dharam Singh urged Union Railway Minister Mukul Roy and Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa to make arrangements for special train services from Amritsar to Bidar, Ambala to Bidar and Bareilly to Bidar on April 25 and for the return journey on April 30.