The North News
Varanasi, April 11
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs 3,880 crore in Varanasi on Thursday, in a move aimed at accelerating the transformation of his parliamentary constituency and the wider Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh. Addressing a large public gathering in the spiritual city of Kashi, Prime Minister Modi described his bond with the area as deeply personal. “Kashi is mine, and I belong to Kashi,” he said, expressing gratitude for what he described as the unwavering support and affection of the city’s residents.
Prime Minister Modi also paid homage at the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple and likened the event to a “festival of development”, celebrating a decade of rapid infrastructure expansion, cultural preservation, and economic growth.
Among the projects launched or inaugurated were roads, bridges, and upgrades to the Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, including a six-lane underground tunnel. The city’s traffic congestion, once infamous, is now being mitigated by the Phulwariya flyover and the expanding Ring Road network. Modi also announced a new bridge linking Varanasi and Sarnath, designed to ease congestion for religious tourists and locals alike.
The Prime Minister also presided over the trial launch of a ropeway system in Varanasi, one of the few such projects globally, aimed at bolstering urban transport and tourism.
On healthcare, Prime Minister Modi spotlighted initiatives such as the Ayushman Bharat and Ayushman Vay Vandana schemes, which he claimed have drastically reduced medical expenses for families across Uttar Pradesh. “Kashi is now becoming a health capital,” he declared, citing the proliferation of modern hospitals that were once limited to metro cities. Nearly 50,000 Vay Vandana cards have been distributed in Varanasi, offering free treatment for senior citizens over 70—a figure Modi described not as a statistic but a “commitment to dignity”.
The Prime Minister praised the role of Banas Dairy, which has expanded operations in Purvanchal, collecting milk from nearly 100,000 farmers. He hailed the distribution of ₹100 crore in bonuses to livestock-rearing families as recognition of their labour rather than charity. “Trust in women has created history,” he said, lauding the emergence of “Lakhpati Didis”—rural women who have achieved financial independence through dairy farming.
Citing India’s rise to the world’s largest milk producer, Modi attributed the feat to rural resilience and government reforms including subsidies, vaccinations, and the revival of cooperative societies.
In a sweeping endorsement of Kashi’s transformation, Modi declared the city “a symbol of India’s soul and diversity”. He praised ongoing efforts to link heritage with economic development, from infrastructure upgrades to cultural initiatives like the Kashi Tamil Sangamam and the forthcoming Ekta Mall, which will display handicrafts and products from across India under one roof.
He also emphasized Uttar Pradesh’s leading role in securing Geographical Indication (GI) tags for regional products. Over 30 goods from Varanasi and nearby districts—ranging from red chillis to shehnai instruments and zardozi embroidery—have received GI recognition, boosting their visibility in global markets.
“The fragrance of Uttar Pradesh’s soil is now crossing borders,” he said, adding that GI tags serve as “certificates of identity” for the land’s creative heritage.
The Prime Minister portrayed Varanasi as a microcosm of a broader transformation across eastern Uttar Pradesh. “The region once plagued by neglect is now a driver of development,” he said, underlining the ₹45,000 crore invested in connectivity over the past decade. He also celebrated the state’s shift from a “land of possibilities to a land of capability”.
Calling upon citizens to continue empowering Kashi, Modi closed his speech with a pledge to link its ancient spirit with a modern identity, saying that preserving the soul of India means preserving the essence of Varanasi.
The event was attended by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
