Chandigarh, Nov 23 (IANS): Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday welcomed the Central government's move to construct the infrastructure for the Kartarpur corridor in Punjab.

He also urged the Centre to initiate steps with the Pakistan government on working out visa formalities once the corridor is completed.

"It fills my heart with joy unspeakable on learning that the Government of India has agreed to build a corridor for pilgrims to visit Kartarpur Sahib on 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji.

"As a Sikh devotee and as a man committed to the cause of Punjab and its people, I am extremely grateful and indebted for the steps initiated by the Government of India," Sidhu said in a letter to Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

He said the move will "write a new chapter of faith and love for the region" and "will act like a soothing balm for two neighbouring countries".

This has been a long standing demand of the Sikh community across the globe and a step in this direction has brought a new ray of hope among pilgrims who are anxiously waiting for paying obeisance at the historical Gurudwara Sahib across the border, Sidhu said.

The Kartarpur corridor will enable pilgrims from India to visit the Sikh shrine located in Pakistan, close to the international border with India.

President Ram Nath Kovind and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh will lay the foundation stone of the project in Dera Baba Nanak area of Punjab's Gurdaspur district on Monday.