Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate and lay foundation stones of projects worth more than Rs 1,780 crore during his visit to his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on Friday.
All preparations have been made at all the venues from where Modi’s motorcade will pass through during his around five-hour stay in the city.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made and top police officers held a meeting to brief about arrangements. Top administrative officers and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders visited Sampurnanand Sanskrit University (SSU) grounds to see the arrangements. The prime minister will address a meeting and launch all the projects at the same venue.
In view of Modi’s visit, several traffic restrictions have been imposed and to check all the arrangements, the fleet rehearsal took place during the day.
The prime minister will address the ‘One World TB Summit’ at Rudraksh Convention Centre at 10:30 am on the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day. This summit is being organised by the ministry of health and family welfare and Stop TB Partnership. Founded in 2001, the Stop TB Partnership is a United Nations-hosted organisation that amplifies the voices of the people, communities and countries affected by TB.
During the event, Modi will launch various initiatives including the TB-Mukt Panchayat initiative; official pan-India rollout of a shorter TB Preventive Treatment (TPT); Family-centric care model for TB and release of India’s Annual TB Report 2023. He will also award select states/Union Territories and districts for their progress towards ending TB.
In the last nine years, Modi has given special focus on transforming the landscape of this ancient city and enhancing ease of living for the people living in the city and its adjoining areas. Taking another step in this direction, he will dedicate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 1,780 crore at SSU Grounds.
The most ambitious project is to lay the foundation stone of the passenger ropeway from Varanasi Junction (Cantonment) railway station to Godowlia. The cost of the project is estimated to be around Rs 645 crore. The ropeway system will be 3.75 km in length with five stations. It will facilitate ease of movement for the tourists, pilgrims and residents of Varanasi.
Besides, the prime minister will also lay the foundation stone of 55 MLD sewage treatment plant at Bhagwanpur under Namami Ganga Scheme, to be built at a cost of more than Rs 300 crore; under the Khelo India Scheme, the Phase 2 and 3 of redevelopment work of Sampurnanand Sports Stadium (Sigra); LPG bottling plant at Isarwar village, Sewapuri to be built by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and various other projects, including primary health centre in Bharthara village; floating jetty with changing rooms, among others.
Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, he will dedicate 19 drinking water schemes which will benefit more than three lakh people of 63 gram panchayats. To further strengthen the rural drinking water system, the prime minister will also lay the foundation stone of 59 drinking water schemes under the mission.
For farmers, exporters and traders in and around Varanasi, the grading, sorting, processing of fruits and vegetables will be possible at an integrated pack house which has been constructed at Karkhiyaon. Modi will dedicate this project to the nation during the event. He will also dedicate various projects under the Varanasi Smart City Mission, including redevelopment work of Rajghat and Mahmoorganj government schools; beautification of internal city roads; redevelopment of six parks and ponds of the city among others.
Besides, Modi will also dedicate various other infrastructure projects, including ATC tower at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport; 2 MW solar power plant at water works premises, Bhelupur; 800 KW solar power plant at Konia pumping station; new community health centre at Sarnath; infrastructure improvement of industrial estate at Chandpur; rejuvenation of temples of Kedareshwar, Vishweshwar and Omkareshwar Khand Parikrama among others.
