PM: Varanasi emerging as a gateway of development

| | Varanasi
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PM: Varanasi emerging as a gateway of development

Wednesday, 19 September 2018 | PNS | Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said Varanasi was fast emerging as a gateway of development for eastern India as the city is developing a hub of medical, educational and integrated transport system with world-class facilities. 

Modi was addressing an impressive gathering at the amphitheatre ground in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) here on Tuesday where he had launched nearly a dozen projects worth over Rs 557 crore.

“Today, the roads of the city are glittering with LED lights, adding not only beauty to the city but also helping Nagar Nigam (municipal corporation) save crores being spent by it on the street lighting system,” he said. Adding that apart from development of integrated transport system, a multi-model terminal is being constructed here linking rail, road and water transport systems and construction of the Ring roads.

“Since long, the files of the Ring Road project were gathering dust in the government offices but when I was voted to parliament by the city about four years ago and the country had given me responsibility as PM, the work on this long-pending project was re-started,” he said, making an indirect attack on Akhilesh government, adding “but the work could not get speed as the previous state government had created a lot of hurdles so that the BJP could not take credit for it.

During his comparatively long address, the PM concentrated in highlighting the projects launched in the city since 2014 but indirectly Modi replied to many issues raised by the opposition, often indirectly.

Praying for Baba Vishwanath (Lord Shiva) and Maa Ganga (Goddess Ganga) to continue their blessings on him to serve people of the city, indicating clearly that he would contest parliamentary election from Varanasi again in 2019 as against doubts of many that he may change his parliamentary seat.

The PM also made an indirect attack on those who are raising their voice against the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor project stating that old temples were being demolished. Modi said, “I always want that all modern facilities be given to this ancient city maintaining its original heritage.” 

“Kashi is fast being developed as a hub of medical facilities not only in Purvanchal (eastern UP) but also in adjoining states where patients come even from Nepal for better treatment,” he said, highlighting the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO) for which he laid the foundation stone.

 Modi surprised many by naming most of the projects, names of places, stations and others in his address. “Today the faces of Varanasi Cantt, Manduadih and Varanasi City stations have been changed and train connectivity with different parts of the country increased. With the construction of Babatpur-Kutchery four-lane road, tourists’ flow from airport has increased sharply from about eight lakhs four year ago to 21 lakhs today,” he said.

“This attempt of making changes in the city through tourism has become possible as the approaches to famous temples, Sarnath and other heritage places have become easy and four famous ponds have been renovated, apart from betterment of facilities to weavers and artisans by providing better marketing through trade facilitation centre and others,” he said.

Modi also highlighted the projects launched for betterment of farmers and in promotion of agriculture not only in Varanasi but also in adjoining areas and said that the process would continue.

Earlier, welcoming the PM, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted the projects done under the IPDS apart from the rural electrification work going on in full swing under the Deen Dayal Rural Electrification Scheme, giving benefits of power supply to 54 lakh families under the Soubhagya Scheme. The function was also addressed by state BJP chief and MP from Chandauli Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey.

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