PM blames previous govts for the state of Varanasi, says change visible now


Team Udayavani, Jul 15, 2018, 11:48 AM IST

Varanasi (UP): Blaming the previous governments for the state of the pilgrim city, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said he wanted to see it developed as a place with an ancient soul but in a modern shell.

Addressing a public rally here in his Lok Sabha constituency, he said change was visible in Varanasi over the last four years of his government. Modi urged the people of Varanasi to start preparing to welcome delegates from all over the world for the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (NRI Day), which will be held here from January 21 to 23 next year.

The guests will also visit Allahabad for a ‘kumbh darshan’. Earlier in the day, the prime minister had addressed another rally in Azamgarh and laid the foundation stone there for the 340-km Purvanchal Expressway. He will visit Mirzapur tomorrow, wrapping up his two-day visit to eastern Uttar Pradesh.

In a symbolic inauguration in Varanasi, Modi launched development projects worth nearly Rs 1,000 crore for the city and the region around it. A new Banaras is being built for a new India; its soul will remain ancient but the structure will be new, he said.

While its culture and traditions will remain, the city will have smart systems. He began his speech in the local dialect and chanted `Har Har Mahadev’. Modi condoled the death of at least 15 people when an under-construction flyover collapsed here in May.

He said the city was in neglect when the Samajwadi Party was in power in Uttar Pradesh. “Four years back there were overflowing sewers, dangling cables, and traffic jams all over. The road from the airport was in a bad state due to which flights were missed, he said.

Modi said the situation had changed now with cooperation between the BJP governments in the state and at the Centre. The condition of the Ganga banks was also not good and all the waste used to flow into the river. The earlier governments were not concerned about this,” he said.

He said a large amount of money was earlier wasted in the name of cleaning up the river. The BJP-led government has now taken up the task of cleaning the Ganga from Gangotri to Gangasagar, and sanctioned Rs 21,000 crore for this.

He said projects related to roads, transport, cooking gas, beautification, cleanliness and other schemes to help people living here were inaugurated today. “The change Varanasi is witnessing is helping nearby areas and villages. For the farmers, a perishable cargo centre is ready and potatoes, tomatoes and other perishable vegetables can be stored here. Farmers will not have to suffer losses,” he said.

“Whether it is roads or railways, new facilities are being made available for Varanasi. Doubling of track to Allahabad and Chhapra is on, he said. New trains will help people from Ballia and Ghazipur to come to Varanasi and return the same day, he added.

He praised the Yogi Adityanath government in the state.  “Tourism promotion and work on cleanliness and conservation of old monuments are being acknowledged. Swachh Bharat campaign has been taken forward by the UP government,” he said.

He said that impact of the state’s industrial policy was also visible now. “The Samsung factory in Nodia was recently inaugurated by me. It will generate job opportunities. Mobile phone factories have increased from two to 120 in the past four years, of these over 50 are in UP,” he said.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

BCCI vs PCB spar on CT venue as Naqvi denies receiving any official note from Indian board

After Yogi’s ‘batenge, katenge’ slogan, PM pitches for unity with ‘Ek hai, toh safe hai’ message

“Coming soon.. 2025”: KL Rahul and Athiya Shetty announce first pregnancy

Mangaluru: Unauthorized bus stops at signals fuel traffic woes and safety concerns

SC notice to Karnataka, DK Shivakumar on CBI plea against withdrawal of consent by state govt

Will remain active in politics till my last breath: JD(S) patriarch & ex-PM Deve Gowda

BJP calls Congress govt ‘laughing stock’ as ‘samosa politics’ heats up in Himachal

Related Articles More

UP women’s body proposes men shouldn’t tailor women’s clothes or cut their hair

After Yogi’s ‘batenge, katenge’ slogan, PM pitches for unity with ‘Ek hai, toh safe hai’ message

Bank fraud: ED seizes jewellery, cash worth over Rs 1 cr in raids against Bhopal-based company, directors

No greater feeling than serving those in need: Outgoing CJI D Y Chandrachud

CJI Chandrachud: A legacy of landmark verdicts that shaped society and some controversy too

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

BCCI vs PCB spar on CT venue as Naqvi denies receiving any official note from Indian board

Use Carnatic music to promote Kannada language: Nirmala Sitharaman

Udupi: Car collides with bike; Rider injured

UP women’s body proposes men shouldn’t tailor women’s clothes or cut their hair

NSE, BSE to be closed on Nov 20 for Maharashtra assembly polls

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.