PM Inaugurates and lays foundation stones of several Development Projects in Varanasi

• 10 Jul 2023

Why in News?

On July 7, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several development projects worth over Rs 12,100 crore in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points:

• The Prime Minister dedicated the Dedicated Freight Corridor to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Junction-Sone Nagar Railway Line. The new line, built at a cost of over Rs 6760 crore, will facilitate faster and more efficient movement of goods.
• He also dedicated to the nation three railway lines, which have been electrified or doubled at a cost of over Rs 990 crore. These include Ghazipur city-Aunrihar rail line, Aunrihar-Jaunpur rail line and Bhatni-Aunrihar rail line. These projects have helped in achieving 100% electrification of railway lines in Uttar Pradesh.
• The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation the four-lane widening of the Varanasi-Jaunpur section of NH-56, completed at a cost of Rs 2,750 crore, making the journey from Varanasi to Lucknow easier and faster.
• The projects for which the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone include three two-lane Rail Over Bridges (ROBs) near Chaukhandi, Kadipur and Harduttpur railway stations; Vyasnagar - Pt. Construction of Deendayal Upadhyay Junction Rail Flyover; And construction and renovation of 15 PWD roads. These projects will be developed at a total cost of about Rs 780 crore.
• The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for 192 rural drinking water schemes to be built at a cost of over Rs 550 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission. This will provide pure drinking water to 7 lakh people in 192 villages.
• The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the redesign and redevelopment of Manikarnika and Harishchandra Ghats. The redeveloped ghats will have provisions for public amenities, waiting areas, timber storage, waste disposal and eco-friendly cremation.
• Other projects for which foundation stones were laid include the construction of a floating changing room jetty on six religiously important bathing ghats on river Ganga in Varanasi on the lines of the floating changing room jetty of Dashashwamedh Ghat and students' hostel at CIPET campus Karsara.
• During the event, the Prime Minister also distributed PM SVANidhi loans, keys to PMAY rural houses and Ayushman Bharat cards to beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh. This will lead to home admission of 5 lakh PMAY beneficiaries, disbursement of 1.25 lakh PM Svanidhi loans to eligible beneficiaries and distribution of 2.88 crore Ayushman cards.