REGIONAL SETTING & LINKAGES

This aspect is studied in order to view the developments taking place in Amritsar in regional
context and to evaluate the locational advantages and disadvantages of the city of Amritsar. In the
Master Plan, this aspect would help in proposing the activities that can be explored based upon the
regional potential and linkages. The location coordinates of Amritsar district lies between 31° 29'
and 32° 03' North latitudes and between 74° 29' and 75° 23' East longitudes. It is the third largest
border district of the state after Ferozepur and Gurdaspur. Tarn Taran is the smallest among the
four border districts.

Besides being the District Headquarter and an important tourist destination (due to the existence
of Golden Temple, Durgiana Mandir, Jallianwala Bagh, etc.), the regional importance of
Amritsar can be assessed as follows:

 The close proximity to the Indo Pak Border has given a great set back to the development
of the city. The border on one hand restricts growth in the North West direction of the
city and on the other hand makes it a point of tourist attraction being an “International
Border”.
 Amritsar is the second largest city of Punjab and a great centre of learning and literature.
It has number of educational institutions of regional importance, such as Guru Nanak Dev
University, Khalsa College, ten Degree Colleges, two B. Ed. colleges, two Engineering
Colleges, nine Nursing Colleges, two Polytechnics/Industrial Training Institutes, one
Medical College, one Ayurvedic College, two Dental Colleges and four distance
education centers.
 It has emerged as a magnificent centre of trade and industry. There are approximately
25,000 industrial units in the district Amritsar with major commodities of production and
export being woolen blankets, shawls, carpets, food items, such as papad, pickles, etc.
 At regional level, it has also emerged has a great centre of heritage and historical
significance. The history of Amritsar is more than 400 years old and is intricately
intertwined with the birth of Sikh religion.
 Presence of Rajasansi International Airport has also helped in giving it due importance at
 regional level. At present, it handles approximately 150 commercial flights per week,
both domestic and international.
 Amritsar also enjoys regional importance as it has developed as the major centre for
agriculture and allied activities over the period. The Amritsar district has 8 mandi’s
namely, Amritsar, Rayya, Gehri, Ajnala, Mehta, Chogawan, Majitha and Attari. Out of
these, six mandi’s except Ajnala and Mehta, fall under L.P.A Amritsar.
 Presence of strong regional linkages, two National Highways namely NH 1 and NH 15,
three State Highways, four M.D.R’s and twenty four O.D.R’s places it at a very strategic
position with respect to the other districts by providing connectivity to the other parts of
the state and country as well. Apart from the extensive road network, it also enjoys good
rail and air connectivity with the other parts of the country.

Fig: Location of Amritsar District in Punjab State