Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated 48 completed projects built at a cost of over Rs 1,050 crore and laid the foundation stone of 112 others worth around Rs 5,300 crore in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi.
The key infrastructure projects include the completion of the Varanasi-Azamgarh Road widening, the opening of critical rail over bridges at Kazzakpura and Kadipur and a sewage treatment plant with a capacity of 55 MLD in Bhagwanpur.
PM Modi arrived in Varanasi this evening on a two-day visit to Uttar Pradesh.
Among the 112 projects whose foundation stones were laid were 13 sewage and water supply schemes under AMRUT 2.0, a 500-bed multi-superspecialty hospital at Shri Shiv Prasad Gupta Divisional District Hospital and the construction of market complexes and office spaces at Bhojuveer and Sigra, according to an official statement.
The other projects are renovation and rejuvenation of ponds, redevelopment of a 198-bed hospital, construction of a 100-bed critical care block and development of tourism facilities at key ghats including Assi Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat, and Namo Ghat.
The prime minister laid the foundation stone for the Integrated Divisional Office, Nagar Nigam office building, and a Government Child Shelter Home and Juvenile Justice Board in Ramnagar, Varanasi.
He also transferred over Rs 105 crore as bonus to milk suppliers of Uttar Pradesh associated with Banas Dairy, the statement said.
Modi laid the foundation stone of the Varanasi Junction-Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction third and fourth railway line project, including the construction of a rail-cum-road bridge over the Ganga.
Over Rs 35,000 cr worth projects finished in Varanasi; Rs 20,000 cr works underway: Adityanath
Meanwhile, more than Rs 35,000 crore worth of development projects have been completed in Varanasi over the past decade, while works on those worth Rs 20,000 crore are currently underway, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Tuesday.
Addressing a gathering, Adityanath said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Lok Sabha MP from Varanasi since 2014, has led the transformation of the ancient city into a global centre by combining heritage with modern development.
He was speaking ahead of the prime minister inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of 163 projects worth over Rs 6,330 crore. The PM was also to flag off two Amrit Bharat Express trains connecting Varanasi to Pune and Ayodhya to Mumbai, aimed at strengthening rail connectivity.
During the `Nari Shakti Vandan` programme, Modi will transfer bonus payments to over 3.21 lakh milk producers associated with Banas Dairy.
Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, BJP national president Nitin Nabin and state BJP chief Pankaj Chaudhary were also present at the event.
Welcoming PM Modi and other dignitaries, Adityanath said the transformation of Varanasi over the past 11-12 years reflects the vision of a “new India”, which is setting new benchmarks in both physical infrastructure and holistic development.
He said the prime minister has identified four key segments of society — the poor, youth, women and farmers — and aligned government policies to ensure their economic empowerment, dignity, security and long-term development.
(With inputs from PTI)