Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated various development initiatives totaling over Rs 3,880 crore in Varanasi on Friday.
Upon his arrival in his parliamentary constituency, PM Modi was warmly welcomed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. During the event, CM Yogi highlighted Varanasi’s role in hosting the Maha Kumbh Mela in 2025. “After victories in assembly elections in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Delhi, as well as the successful organization of the Maha Kumbh, the Prime Minister is here in Kashi today. The city witnessed a grand Maha Kumbh, where over 3 crore devotees prayed at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple during the 45-day event,” he stated.
This visit marks PM Modi’s first trip to Varanasi since the completion of the Yogi-Adityanath-led UP Government’s eight-year tenure. As part of his commitment to boosting infrastructure, especially road connectivity in Varanasi, he inaugurated and laid the groundwork for several road projects in the area.
Among the major projects is a road bridge connecting Varanasi Ring Road to Sarnath, flyovers at the Bhikharipur and Manduadih intersections, and a highway underpass at the Varanasi International Airport, costing over Rs 980 crore.
PM Modi also inaugurated two 400 KV and one 220 KV transmission substations, along with associated transmission lines for the Jaunpur, Chandauli, and Ghazipur districts in the Varanasi division, valued at over Rs 1,045 crore. He laid the foundation stone for a 220 KV transmission substation at Chaukaghat in Varanasi, a 132 KV substation in Ghazipur, and enhancements to the electricity distribution system in Varanasi worth over Rs 775 crore.
Additionally, PM Modi inaugurated a Transit Hostel at the Police Line, barracks at the PAC Ramnagar Campus, and laid the foundation for new administrative buildings at various police stations and a residential hostel in the Police Line.
Among other projects inaugurated were a Government Polytechnic College at Pindra, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Government College in Barki village, 356 rural libraries, and 100 Anganwadi centres. He also laid the foundation for renovations of 77 primary school buildings under the Smart City Mission and a new building for Kasturba Gandhi School in Cholapur, Varanasi.
To enhance sports infrastructure, the Prime Minister launched the foundation for a synthetic hockey turf with floodlights and a spectator gallery at Uday Pratap College, as well as a mini stadium in Shivpur.
Further, PM Modi oversaw the redevelopment of Samne Ghat and Shastri Ghat along the Ganga River, initiated 130 rural drinking water schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission worth over Rs 345 crore, improved six municipal wards in Varanasi, and supported landscaping and sculpture installations at various sites.
The Prime Minister also laid the groundwork for an MSME Unity Mall for artisans, infrastructure enhancements for the Transport Nagar Scheme at Mohansarai, a 1 MW solar power plant at WTP Bhelupur, community halls in 40 Gram Panchayats, and beautification projects in Varanasi.
In a notable gesture, PM Modi distributed Ayushman Vay Vandana cards to senior citizens for the first time in over 70 years and presented Geographical Indication (GI) certificates for local products including tabla, paintings, thandai, and tiranga barfi. He also transferred over Rs 105 crore in bonuses to milk suppliers associated with Banas Dairy in Uttar Pradesh.
