More people can witness retreat ceremony at Wagah

NEW DELHI: India is set to expand the showcase military retreat ceremony along its frontier with Pakistan at Wagah as the government has sanctioned an amount of Rs 24 crore to usher better civic facilities at the location.

The Home Ministry has approved a proposal of the Border Security Force (BSF) to create additional spectators' galaries and lofty seating stands to accomodate close to 12,000 people for witnessing the retreat ceremony conducted every evening by the border guarding troops, dressed in full regalia, of both the countries in Amritsar.

Some of the present galleries, made of cement and concrete, will be destroyed in order to give the retreat area a more creative look and enable visitors to view the ceremony more clearly.

At present, only 2,000 people are able to witness the 40-minute ceremony which plays out with patriotic songs in the prelude of the lowering of flags.

"We have got a fresh sanction of Rs 23.98 crore and we will now be creating a grand design of spectator stands and other civic amenities at this popular people-to-people junction between the two countries," BSF Inspector General (Administration) Ashok Kumar told PTI.

The infrastructuire creation, Kumar said, will be carried out in two phases and there will be a lofty gallery right above the Grand Trunk Road that connects India with Pakistan.

The work will be carried out by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and the new facilities are expected to be in place in over a period of two years.

The entire retreat area on the Indian side will resemble a horse-shoe 'U' shape under the new plan for the gallery.