Modi, Abe to launch design in Ahmedabad today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe will together watch the design of Varanasi Convention Centre which is proposed to come up at the PM’s constituency, at an event in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
The centre will be also known as Rudraksha.
The design has been finalized by Japanese architect Yukosasa keeping in view the heritage of Kashi, world’s oldest living city.
Japan International Cooperating Agency (JICA) will provide funds for the construction of the convention centre, estimated to be around Rs 140 crore.
A short film giving details of facilities, architecture and other features of the design will be played before the two PMs at the launching ceremony.
After approval of the design, a detailed project report will be prepared.
“JICA had submitted the design to Centre around a week back,” said RP Singh, project director, project monitoring committee of the union urban development ministry.
The construction is proposed in an area of 2.87 acre.
The proposed VCC will have a double story auditorium, designed in a way that it may be divided into many sections in case of need.
Singh said, after approval of the design, the DPR will be completed by February, 2018.
While JICA will construct the VCC, central public works department will monitor construction at local level. Construction is likely to start in the first week of June next year.
There will be live screening of the event on screens set up at VMC auditorium.
Presentation on the progress of other developmental projects going on in Varanasi with the help of JICA will also be part of the live screening.
Varanasi Municipal commissioner Dr Nitin Bansal said that all preparations for the event have been completed.
Top officials, including all engineers and municipal commissioner will attend the event. PM Modi may speak to them.
The decision to build world class convention centre in Varanasi was taken during Abe’s visit to Varanasi on December 12, 2015.
JICA was given responsibility to come out with a design to construct the VCC.