Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday announced major development initiatives and welfare schemes, incuding free bus and auto transport service, for the benefit of devotees visiting Sikh pilgrimage towns.

Addressing the 350th anniversary of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur in Anandpur Sahib, he described Teg Bahadur's sacrifice as “unmatched in world history.”

He said the government intends to honour this legacy through meaningful public welfare projects rather than symbolic statements.

Mann announced that Amritsar, Talwandi Sabo and Sri Anandpur Sahib will soon have completely free bus and auto transport services for devotees, with the state government covering all operational expenses. He said the move aims to ensure that pilgrims do not face travel difficulties while visiting these historic religious centres.

The Chief Minister also declared that a new heritage street will be constructed in Sri Anandpur Sahib to combine cultural legacy with modern facilities and strengthen tourism. In addition, the Charan Ganga Stadium will be upgraded with advanced infrastructure to host sports, religious and cultural events.

Mann added that all government-owned shops in the city will be redesigned with a uniform layout and theme to give the entire town a cohesive heritage appearance.

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also attended the event with his wife and expressed satisfaction with the arrangements made by the Punjab government. He visited multiple gurdwaras and publicly apologised in case any shortcomings were reported.

The ceremony was marked by tributes to Guru Tegh Bahadur’s extraordinary sacrifice, which Mann referred to as a historic instance where one individual’s last rites were performed in two different places, calling it a moment with no parallel in global history.