VARANASI : The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 19,150 crores in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
The projects include the inauguration of New Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Nagar-New Bhaupur Dedicated Freight Corridor Project built at a cost of around Rs 10,900 crore among other railway projects. Prime Minister flagged off Varanasi-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express train, Dohrighat-Mau MEMU train and a pair of Long Haul goods trains at the newly inaugurated Dedicated Freight Corridor. PM also flagged off the 10,000th locomotive made by Banaras Locomotive Works.

He inaugurated green-field Shivpur-Phulwaria-Lahartara road along with two ROBs at a cost of more than Rs 370 crores. Other key projects being inaugurated by the Prime Minister include the strengthening and widening of 20 roads; Sangam Ghat road in Kaithi village and the construction of residential buildings in Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Hospital, two 200 and 150-bed multi-storey barrack buildings in Police line and PAC Bhullanpur, smart bus shelters built at 9 locations and 132 KW substation built at Alaipur. He also launched the Unified Tourist Pass System under the Smart City Mission.

The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of various projects worth more than Rs 6500 crores including an 800 MW solar park in Chitrakoot district at a cost of around Rs 4000 crores, new petroleum oil terminal at Mirzapur to be built at a cost of over Rs 1050 crores, widening of Varanasi-Bhadohi NH 731 B (Package-2) at a cost of over Rs 900 crores; 69 rural drinking water schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission at a cost of Rs 280 crores and various other health sector projects.

The Prime Minister remarked, mentioning the same belief in the inauguration and foundation stone laying of development projects worth approximately Rs 20,000 crores. He mentioned water supply to villages of Varanasi, Critical Care Unit in BHU Trauma Center, roads, railways, airports, electricity, solar energy, Ganga Ghats and various other sectors, and said that it will further the pace of development in the region. He also mentioned flagging off the Kashi-Kanyakumari Tamil Sangamam Train yesterday evening, and the Varanasi-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express, and Dohrighat-Mau MEMU trains which were flagged off today. The Prime Minister congratulated everyone for the development projects.
The Prime Minister said, observing that this belief has strengthened the resolve of making India a developed nation by 2047.

The Prime Minister said that Modi has guaranteed to make India the third largest economic power in the world in the third term. "If I am giving this guarantee to the country today, it is because of all of you, my family members of Kashi. You always stand by me, strengthening my resolutions?" the Prime Minister concluded.