Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh, on Saturday, August 2, and launched a series of development projects worth around INR 2,200 crore. The initiatives span multiple sectors, including roads, electricity, education, tourism, and healthcare, aimed at transforming the city’s infrastructure and quality of life.
During his visit, PM Modi also released the 20th instalment of the PM-Kisan scheme, benefiting millions of farmers across the country. Ahead of the visit, he shared on X, “For my family members in Kashi, tomorrow, August 2, is a very special day. Around 11 in the morning, I will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for several projects related to education, health, sports, tourism, and connectivity. On this occasion, I will also have the privilege of releasing the 20th instalment of PM-Kisan.”
Among the key infrastructure projects inaugurated were the widening and strengthening of the Varanasi–Bhadohi road and the Chhitauni–Shool Tankeshwar road. A new railway overbridge at Hardattpur is expected to ease traffic on the busy Mohan Sarai–Adalpura stretch. PM Modi also laid foundation stones for corridors at Lahartara–Kotwa, Dalmandi, Gangapur, and Babatpur, along with overbridges at Level Crossing 22C and Khalispur Yard.
To strengthen the region’s power infrastructure, works under the Smart Distribution Project and the undergrounding of electric lines worth ₹880 crore were launched. In the tourism and cultural sector, the redevelopment of eight Kuccha Ghats, restoration of Durgakund, and beautification of Rangildas Kutiya in Shivpur were among the key highlights. The PM also laid the foundation stone for restoring the Kardameshwar Mahadev Temple and developing Karkhiyaon, the birthplace of several freedom fighters.
Projects aimed at cultural heritage and public facilities included the redevelopment of Munshi Premchand’s ancestral home in Lamahi, the creation of City Facility Centres in Sarnath, Rishi Mandvi, and Ramnagar, and the development of an Urban Miyawaki Forest at Kanchanpur. Additionally, Shaheed Udyan and 21 other parks are set for beautification.
Environmental works included the purification of kunds like Ramkund, Mandakini, and Shankuldhara, and the installation of four floating pujan platforms. In rural areas, 47 new drinking water schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission were inaugurated to ensure access to clean water.
In education, PM Modi inaugurated upgrades to 53 school buildings and laid foundation stones for a new district library and rejuvenation of government high schools in Jakhini and Lalpur. In healthcare, advanced facilities like robotic surgery and CT scans are being added at the Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Cancer Centre and Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital. The PM also laid the foundation of a Homoeopathic College and Hospital and inaugurated an Animal Birth Control Centre with an attached Dog Care Facility.