Nanakshahi bricks to spruce up road to Golden Temple

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 21

The state government and agencies involved in the beautification of the route to the Golden Temple has dropped the idea of having an earthern colour on the facades of buildings on the line of Hazaratganj in Lucknow.

Instead, facade on the route is being spruced up with Nanakshahi bricks, red sand stone and motifs of flower in white colour. Officials associated with the project said Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal is personally monitoring the project and the motive is to give a heritage look to the facade.

Contractors executing the project have been strictly asked to use Nanakshahi bricks. The demand of bricks has shot up in the market with widespread use of the centuries old bricks on the beautification of this stretch to the Golden Temple. These bricks, which are easily identified by their small size, would offer a pristine look to the devotees. Even as the ordinary brick is available for Rs 4.20 in the retail market, an old Nanakshahi is sold at double the price.

These Nanakshahi bricks, available in 4”x4” and 4”x6’’ sizes, are sourced from old and dilapidated houses being demolished in the walled city.

Contractors are engaged in this profession and they sell parts the debris, wooden frames, doors, windows, used bricks and other material. Mukhtiar Singh, a dealer, said the demand of Nanakshahi bricks has far exceeded its supply in the market. PWD, Executive Engineer, Jasbir Singh Sodhi said Nanakshahi bricks an aesthetic look which do not come from ordinary bricks.

After the Union Ministry of Tourism granted an ambitious project to bring uniformity in the facade of the approach of a stretch of the holiest Sikh shrine, a Mumbai- based Darashaw Consultancy Private Limited had prepared its DPR.