PM gifts projects worth over ₹1,000 cr to Kashi
VARANASI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday gifted projects worth over Rs 1,000 crore to his parliamentary constituency Varanasi, besides flagging off the Mahamana Express between Varanasi and Vadodara, at an event here.
Modi dedicated projects worth Rs 595 crore, including the Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) and Crafts Museum. He also dedicated two bridges — Baluaa Ghat and Samane Ghat – that together cost Rs 189 crore, a water ambulance facility and 14 other projects, including power sub-stations.
The TFC, where the event was held, has been named Deendayal Upadhyaya Hastkala Sankul (Deendayal Upadhyay Handicraft Complex). It has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 305 crore. The state of the art building reflects the rich heritage of Kashi crafts.
Modi, union textile minister Smriti Irani, governor Ram Naik and chief minister Yogi Adityanath took a round of the TFC and crafts museum.
The Prime Minister also distributed solar lamps, tool kits and study material to children of weavers. Eastern UP, especially Varanasi, is known to be a hub of handicrafts. Artisans here weave beautiful Banarasi sarees and brocades, handmade carpets and stoles. Craftsmen also make wooden toys, soft stone artefacts and black pottery.
The TFC will act as a platform for weavers, whole-sellers, craftsmen and e-market platform owners and would help in increasing their income.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation of developmental projects worth over over Rs 400 crore. The projects include sewage treatment plant (STP), Ramana worth 153 crore and Anna Kshetra of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir worth Rs 13 crore, scheme to provide sewer connection and potable water connection to over 52 houses and beautification of seven major parks, including Tilbhandeshwar Park, Ratnakar Park and Chandrika Park, Ashok Vihar, Naati Imali Park etc.Modi later also released a postage stamp on Ramayan at Tulsi Manas Mandir. In the evening, he offered prayers to Maa Durga at famous Durga temple in Durga Kund here. The PM will make an overnight stay at DLW guest house.
On September 23, he will inaugurate a livestock heath fair at Shahanshahpur village in his parliamentary constituency.
He will also attend a sanitation programme in the village.The PM is on visit to his parliamentary constituency six months after the landslide victory of the BJP in state assembly elections UP. BJP won 325 seats. During assembly poll campaigning, he held three back-to-back road shows in Varanasi.
CRAFTS MUSEUM
TFC and Crafts Museum demonstrates Banarasi brocades and sarees, metal repousse, gulabi meenakari (pink enamelling), lacquer ware and wooden toys, handmade carpets of Bhadohi and Mirzapur, handmade dari, Varanasi glass beads and Nizamabad black pottery, handlooms and powerlooms.
The museum has beautiful idols of Lord Rama, Sita and Laxman. An idol of Ravana has also been placed. Idol of Lord Buddha in meditation and wooden Ashoka stambha gives glimpses of Sarnath, a holy place near Varanasi, visited by Buddhists from across the globe.
Classical music instruments of Banaras, including tabla, mridang, dholak, taanpura, sitar, sarod, veena, and shehnai have been preserved and placed beautifully for public show at the museum.
It gives glimpses of rich art and crafts heritage of the oldest living city. Museum assistant director Vijay Bahadur Singh told HT, “All items of Banaras handicrafts and those of eastern UP have been preserved at the Trade facilitation Centre and Crafts Museum for visitors to catch the glimpses of rich heritage of Banaras.”
The TFC comprises a big auditorium, hall and crafts museum and all other facilities for weavers, traders and craftsmen. First phase of the construction was inaugurated by Modi last year in December.
PM Modi laid its foundation in 2014.