Decongesting Amritsar’s Heritage Street for balancing tourism growth and cultural preservation – ET TravelWorld

With the growing influx of tourists to the holy city, the Amritsar administration has launched a comprehensive initiative to decongest Heritage Street , an iconic thoroughfare, known for its historic buildings, gates, and popular Heritage Walk, that attracts a large number of visitors with an aims to improve the overall visitor experience while preserving the cultural and historical significance of the area.

Stating that erratic traffic flow is a major factor contributing to congestion and inconvenience for tourists, Amritsar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sakshi Sawhney said that this is causing jams and inconvenience to tourists. DC said that she convened a meeting with the Amritsar Police Commissioner and the Municipal Corporation Commissioner to formulate a comprehensive plan aimed at decongesting Heritage Street and its surrounding areas.

The administration has also implemented measures to ensure that tourists are not subjected to any exploitation. DC Sawhney also informed plans to renovate and preserve the historic Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Gate as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the city’s cultural heritage.

Commissioner, AMC, Gurpreet Aulukh said that to enhance the convenience of tourists, QR codes have been installed along Heritage Street, allowing visitors to scan and access detailed information about the area. He also informed that several measures are being implemented to streamline traffic flow and prevent congestion. Aulukh informed that, until the resumption of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), two-wheelers will be permitted to use the BRTS lane.

Regarding the Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Gate, he said that plans are underway for its renovation, with a focus on preserving its historical and architectural integrity. The renovation will not only maintain the gate’s cultural significance but also enhance its appeal as an added attraction for tourists visiting the city.

While expressing concern over the heavy rush of tourists in Amritsar, particularly on Heritage Street, which often leads to congestion and disrupts the area’s cultural charm, social activist P C Sharma, while acknowledging the importance of tourism for the local economy, said on an average over 1 lakh tourists visits Heritage Street every day and there is a dire need for decongestion measures that do not compromise the heritage character of the street.

Sharma also advocated for a balanced approach—one that preserves the historical integrity of the area while improving visitor experience and expressed hope that the initiatives taken by the Amritsar administration will yield desirable results for both the local community and tourists to help reducing the congestion while preserving the heritage and cultural significance of Heritage Street.