Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his 50th Varanasi visit as the MP of the constituency, announced that the ancient city has now turned into a "fast-growing city" after a decade of concerted development.
On Friday, he inaugurated and laid the foundation for development works amounting to ₹3,880 crore that are aimed at transforming the urban and rural infrastructure in the area.
Addressing a crowd of over 50,000 enthusiastic supporters, PM Modi stated, “I am indebted to Kashi. Kashi is mine, I am Kashi’s.” He praised the city’s ability to preserve its heritage while embracing progress, saying, “In the last 10 years, Varanasi has progressed rapidly. Kashi has protected history, embraced modernity and taken strong steps forward for the future. Kashi is not only ancient but also a growing city.”
He also stressed the importance of the region in the growth of eastern Uttar Pradesh, affirming, "The Kashi run by Mahadev is spearheading Purvanchal's growth."
During the function, 44 various projects aimed at enhancing public services, improving connectivity links, and improving basic infrastructure were announced by Modi. These include connectivity projects and initiatives such as Har Ghar Jal Yojana, all aimed at the dream of a developed Purvanchal for the youth.
Observing the birth anniversary of reformist Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, PM Modi highlighted the dedication of the government to gender equality in the spirit of Phule and his wife Savitri Bai Phule. He indicated that their spirit is being fulfilled by continuous work in empowering women.
Swiping at the Opposition, the Prime Minister drew a distinction between the style adopted by the government and what he called dynastic politics. "We are moving ahead with the vision of 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas' for the country. People whose sole priority is to plot and capture power, their commitment is 'Parivar ka Sath, Parivar ka Vikas,'" he explained.
PM Modi appreciated Banas Dairy's work in women empowerment, particularly under the Lakhpati Didi scheme. He praised the dairy industry and animal breeders, especially Purvanchal women, for their major contribution to making India the global leader in milk production.
Among the major projects launched were a new transit hostel within the Police Lines and renovated police barracks in Ramnagar—both initiatives focused on enhancing civic amenities and aiding law enforcement infrastructure.
In support of local craftspeople and traditional businesses, the Prime Minister also distributed Geographical Indication (GI) certificates for 21 recently registered Uttar Pradesh products, showing that the government is pushing for preserving regional identity and heritage.
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