On his 51st visit to his Lok Sabha constituency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of development projects worth approximately ₹2,200 crore in Varanasi. These projects span across multiple sectors including roads, electricity, tourism, cultural preservation, and rural drinking water supply.
PM Modi inaugurated the widening and strengthening of the Varanasi–Bhadohi road and Chhitauni–Shool Tankeshwar road, alongside the new Railway Overbridge at Hardattpur aimed at easing congestion on the Mohan Sarai–Adalpura route. He also laid foundation stones for extensive road upgradation works across various rural and urban corridors including Dalmandi, Lahartara–Kotwa, Gangapur, and Babatpur. New railway overbridges are also planned at Level Crossing 22C and Khalispur Yard.
To modernize the region’s power infrastructure, the Prime Minister launched the Smart Distribution Project and approved undergrounding of electrical infrastructure across the city, collectively valued at over ₹880 crore. This move is expected to enhance power reliability and safety.
A major focus of the visit was on promoting tourism and cultural restoration. PM Modi inaugurated the redevelopment of eight riverfront Kuccha Ghats and beautification work at Kalika Dham, Rangildas Kutiya pond and ghat in Shivpur, and Durgakund. He laid the foundation for restoration of Kardameshwar Mahadev Temple and heritage development of Karkhiyaon, the birthplace of multiple freedom fighters. The City Facility Centres in Sarnath, Rishi Mandvi, and Ramnagar zones were also launched, along with the redevelopment of Munshi Premchand’s ancestral house and upgrades to its adjoining museum in Lamahi.
Environmental and recreational initiatives were also included. PM Modi laid the foundation for the creation of an Urban Miyawaki Forest at Kanchanpur and announced redevelopment plans for Shaheed Udyan and 21 other city parks. The foundation stone was also laid for the purification and restoration of key water bodies like Ramkund, Mandakini, and Shankuldhara, including installation of four floating pujan platforms.
In a significant step towards improving rural water access, the Prime Minister inaugurated 47 Rural Drinking Water Schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission to ensure clean drinking water in surrounding villages.
