PM to inaugurate highway, other projects in Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday said he would visit Varanasi tomorrow to inaugurate development projects.

“I look forward to being in Kashi to inaugurate development projects that will have a transformative impact on the city and the rest of Uttar Pradesh, especially Poorvanchal,” Modi said in a series of tweets.

“Kashi has blessed me with unparalleled affection. I am doing everything possible to transform the ancient city and strengthen it with the modern infrastructure it deserves, “major infrastructure project, which will enhance ‘Ease of Living’ for the people of Varanasi.”

The government in an official press statement said that Modi will dedicate to the nation two important national highways in Varanasi, having a total length of 34km built at a cost of Rs15.7bn.

The statement said that the 16.55km Varanasi Ring Road Phase-I has been completed at a cost of Rs7.6bn, while the work of four-laning and construction of 17.25km BabatputVaranasi road on NH-56 has cost Rs8.12bn.

According to the statement, the Babatpur Airport highway will link Varanasi to the airport and extend to Jaunpur, Sultanpur and Lucknow.

“With a flyover at Harhua and a road over bridge (ROB) at Tarna, the road will reduce the travel time from Varanasi to the airport and will prove a big relief to the residents, tourists and other visitors,” it said.

The Ring Road, with two ROBs and a flyover, will provide a way for traffic on NH 56 (LucknowVaranasi), NH 233 (AzamgarhVaranasi), NH 29 (GorakhpurVaranasi) and Ayodhya-Varanasi highways to bypass Varanasi, thereby reducing traffic congestion in the city.

According to the statement, these projects will also provide employment opportunities and development of small and medium industries in the area.

Currently there are 2,833km of National Highway projects costing Rs638bn underway to link Varanasi to other places in Eastern Uttar Pradesh.

During his visit, Modi will also dedicate the newly constructed Multi-Modal Terminal on Ganges River to the nation.

“This is the first of the four multi-modal terminals being constructed on NW-I (Ganges) as part of the World Bank-aided Jal Marg Vikas project of the Inland Waterways Authority of India,” it said.

The prime minister will also receive India’s first container vessel that sailed from Kolkata.

“This consignment containing food and beverage set sail from Kolkata in the last week of October,” it said.