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Punjab Assembly Urges Reopening Kartarpur Corridor After Closure

By Drooid · Oct 28, 2026, 04:25 UTC · How we work

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Summary

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann urged the Union government to reopen the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor.
The Punjab Vidhan Sabha unanimously resolved to reopen the corridor and keep it operational.
The resolution called for simplified registration for elderly and infirm pilgrims and engagement with Pakistan for safety.
The corridor has remained closed since May 7, 2025, after Operation Sindoor and security concerns.

History

When India and Pakistan inaugurated the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on 9 November 2019, the 4.7-kilometre link granted visa-free access to Sikh pilgrims worldwide. In its inaugural year, the corridor recorded roughly 4.5 million crossings, surpassing the projected 3 million target set by the Ministry of External Affairs. Now, after the May 7 2025 closure following Operation Sindoor, Mann and the Punjab Vidhan Sabha are urging the Union government to negotiate renewed safety protocols with Pakistan. Reopening could restore cross-border religious tourism, boost Punjab’s economy by an estimated $200 million annually, and ease regional bilateral political tensions.

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Historical Context

When India and Pakistan inaugurated the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on 9 November 2019, the 4.7-kilometre link granted visa-free access to Sikh pilgrims worldwide. In its inaugural year, the corridor recorded roughly 4.5 million crossings, surpassing the projected 3 million target set by the Ministry of External Affairs. Now, after the May 7 2025 closure following Operation Sindoor, Mann and the Punjab Vidhan Sabha are urging the Union government to negotiate renewed safety protocols with Pakistan. Reopening could restore cross-border religious tourism, boost Punjab’s economy by an estimated $200 million annually, and ease regional bilateral political tensions.

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