Over Rs 35,000 cr worth projects finished in Varanasi; Rs 20,000 cr works underway: Adityanath

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 here, 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. ''The prime minister's arrival here today among us is linked to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. Over the past 11-“12 years, the respected prime minister has led campaigns for women's safety and dignity, along with beneficiary-oriented schemes. Now, as lawmakers, there was an effort to take a major step within a defined timeframe to grant women 33 per cent reservation in Parliament and state legislatures by 2019,'' Adityanath said. ''However, a conspiracy by the opposition, including the Indian National Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the INDIA alliance, sought to block this move. As a result, there is visible anger among the country's 'aadhi aabaadi' (women), reflecting a strong reaction against these attempts,'' he said. Adityanath said this sentiment is being expressed both as opposition to the negative attitude of these parties and as gratitude and support for the prime minister. It also shows that women across the country stand firmly with the Prime Minister's vision. ''Everyone is aware that Varanasi has made significant progress over the past 11-12 years. Under the prime minister's leadership, projects worth over Rs 35,000 crore have already been completed on the ground, while projects exceeding Rs 20,000 crore are currently underway,'' the UP CM said. He added that the PM has come today to dedicate and lay the foundation stones for projects worth over Rs 6,330 crore, giving a fresh boost to Varanasi's development, along with addressing the Nari Shakti Vandan Sammelan. Highlighting Varanasi's significance, the chief minister said the city has been India's spiritual and cultural centre since ancient times and has now emerged as a global attraction. He cited the redevelopment of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham as an example of the blend of heritage and development. ''Varanasi, which has preserved India's civilisational ethos, is now visible to the world in a new form,'' he said. Adityanath also spoke about women's empowerment, referring to the Nari Shakti Vandan initiative, and alleged that opposition parties had attempted to obstruct such measures, which had led to public resentment. He said the large participation of women at the event reflected their support for the Prime Minister's vision. The chief minister said, despite the scorching heat, people, particularly women, began arriving at the venue hours in advance, reflecting their enthusiasm for the programme. He added that the Prime Minister arrived in Varanasi after engagements in the northeastern region, including Sikkim and West Bengal, to interact with people and offer prayers at the Ganga, Maa Annapurna and Kashi Vishwanath.

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