~ Prime Minister Narendra Modi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n On April 11, PM Modi launched development projects worth \u20b93,880 crore in Kashi.<\/strong> The ancient city is getting a modern makeover. Roads are being widened; schools are being upgraded and new power stations are coming up. Kashi is growing while keeping its roots alive. From 2014 to March 2025, 580 projects<\/strong> were taken up under Kashi Development with a total investment of \u20b948,459 crore<\/strong>. The aim is to improve infrastructure, preserve heritage and support tourism in Varanasi.<\/p>\n\n\n Kashi\u2019s Development Journey: Key Milestones<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f<\/strong> November 7, 2014<\/strong>:<\/strong> <\/strong>The Powerloom Service Centre was inaugurated and a \u20b92,375 crore revival package was announced for district cooperative banks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f<\/strong> September 18, 2015: \u20b9572 crore <\/strong>was announced for Kashi\u2019s upgrade, along with \u20b911,000 crore <\/strong>for roads connecting nearby districts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f<\/strong> December 22, 2016: Projects worth \u20b92,100 crore<\/strong> were inaugurated, including foundation stones of various projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f<\/strong> September 22, 2017:<\/strong> PM Modi dedicated the Deendayal Hastkala Sankul, a trade facilitation centre for handicrafts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f<\/strong> July 14, 2018: <\/strong>Foundation stone of key projects worth over \u20b9900 crore was laid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f<\/strong> March 8, 2019<\/strong>: The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor.<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f<\/strong> November 30, 2020:<\/strong> The 73 km six-lane NH19 built at \u20b92,447 crore was inaugurated<\/strong> to ease travel between Prayagraj and Varanasi. The Maha Kaal Express India\u2019s first overnight private train was also launched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f<\/strong>December 13-14, 2021: <\/strong>Phase 1 of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham, constructed at a cost of around Rs 339 crores inaugurated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f<\/strong> July 7, 2022:<\/strong> PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of development projects worth over \u20b91,800 crore. This includes \u20b9590 crore under Varanasi Smart City and Urban Projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f<\/strong> January 13, 2023<\/strong>: PM Modi flagged off the world\u2019s longest river cruise \u2018MV Ganga Vilas.\u2019 \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f<\/strong> December 18, 2023:<\/strong> The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation several development projects worth over \u20b919,150 crore in Varanasi.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f<\/strong> October 10, 2024: <\/strong>The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects worth Rs 6,100 crores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From Pilgrimage to Premium Experiences<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tourism in Varanasi is more than just travel, it\u2019s a journey through history, faith and vibrant culture. Below are key initiatives that are reshaping the tourism experience in the city:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Launched by PM Narendra Modi on January 13, 2023, the MV Ganga Vilas is the world\u2019s longest river cruise, starting from Varanasi and culminating in Dibrugarh on 28th February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Tent City was inaugurated on January 13, 2023 on the opposite bank of the Ganga from the city ghats. Open from October to June annually, the Tent City helps manage the increasing tourist flow by providing a unique and peaceful riverside stay experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inaugurated on December 13, 2021, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor is a transformative \u20b9355-crore project that spans an area of 5.5 acres. It connects the Kashi Vishwanath Temple directly to the Ganges River via a four-lane pathway, making the temple more accessible to pilgrims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To enhance the visual appeal of Varanasi’s historic monuments, several illumination projects have been undertaken: In 2015, \u20b95.12 crore was sanctioned for lighting up monuments like Dhamekh Stupa, Chaukhandi Stupa, Tomb of Lalkan, and Man Mahal. In 2017, \u20b92.93 crore were sanctioned to illuminate Dashashwamedh to Darbhanga Ghat, Tulsi Manas Mandir, and the Sarnath Museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kashi’s Infrastructure Boost<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Kashi’s infrastructure development has seen major progress from 2021 to 2025. The Varanasi-Gorakhpur NH-20 (Package-2)<\/strong>, a 72.16 km road was inaugurated on October 25, 2021. The project cost was \u20b93,509 crore. The redevelopment of Namo Ghat (Khidkiya Ghat)<\/strong> was completed on November 15, 2024. The cost of the redevelopment was \u20b995.2 crore. The ghat now features a cafeteria, viewing platforms and heritage murals. The construction of the jetty at Rajghat costed approximately Rs.10 crore. Each cruise boat was procured at a cost of Rs.20 crore. Furthermore, the tourism circuit along the riverfront will feature the construction of a walkway, a viewing deck, and a food court. The operation of cruise boats started in March, 2023. Additionally, over \u20b9980 crore is allocated for flyovers, road bridges, and an airport underpass on April 11, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n Urban Transformation in Kashi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Varanasi is undergoing a major urban makeover with focus on sustainability and civic upgrades. To reduce pollution in the Ganga, diesel\/petrol boats were converted to CNG<\/strong>. This project, worth \u20b929.7 crore, was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on July 7, 2022. It is being executed by Varanasi Smart City Ltd. and GAIL. The Goitha Sewage Treatment Plant (STP),<\/strong> with a capacity of 120 million litres per day (MLD), was inaugurated on February 19, 2019. Built at a cost of \u20b9217.57 crore, it was aimed at treating sewage and reducing pollution in the Ganga. Under the Namami Gange scheme, a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) with a capacity of 55 million litres per day (MLD) is also being built at a cost of \u20b9300 crore. On April 11, 2025, \u20b9345 crore has been allocated under Jal Jeevan Mission for rural drinking water schemes. Varanasi connected 55,000 houses to sewer lines under AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation),<\/strong> using \u20b9105 crore, by March 2017. For better parking and traffic flow, the Godowlia Multilevel Two-wheeler Parking<\/strong>, a four-storey facility for 375 vehicles, was built for \u20b919.55 crore and operates 24\/7 with full security.<\/p>\n\n\n Varanasi\u2019s Handloom and Handicraft Revival<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Varanasi is renowned not just for its spiritual aura, but also for its rich tradition of handlooms and handicrafts. Generations of artisans have mastered the art of silk weaving, wood and stone carving, metalwork, pottery and jewellery making. <\/strong>Their creations reflect incredible skill and cultural heritage. Many of these crafts, like Banarasi sarees<\/strong>, Soft Stone Jali work<\/strong>, Banaras Gulabi Meenakari<\/strong> and Wooden Lacquerware & Toys<\/strong> etc, have received Geographical Indication (GI) tags, marking their authenticity and excellence.<\/p>\n\n\n To support and promote these traditional arts the government announced the establishment of a Trade Facilitation Centre and Crafts Museum<\/strong> in the 2014-15 Union Budget<\/strong>. This initiative aimed to help weavers, artisans, and entrepreneurs market their products. The complex was built over 7.93 acres with a total cost of \u20b9300 crore, providing a space for showcasing, training and selling local crafts. The Centre was inaugurated on September 22, 2017 and today stands as a key step in preserving Varanasi\u2019s artistic legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kashi\u2019s Education and Health Drive<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Kashi is witnessing rapid growth through major investments in research, healthcare, energy, and education. The Inter-University Teacher Education Center (IUTEC)<\/strong> at BHU, Varanasi, was inaugurated on December 23, 2021. Built at a cost of \u20b9107.36 crore, it will offer a two-year M.Ed. program for 1,000 students. In February 2019, PM inaugurated the PARAM Shivay Supercomputing Center<\/strong> at BHU, with a peak performance of 3.3 petaflops and a cost of \u20b932.5 crore. In agriculture, \u20b9105 crore bonus was transferred to Banas Dairy milk suppliers in April 11, 2025. In the power sector, \u20b91,820 crore has been allocated for new substations and transmission upgrades. The redevelopment of Sports Stadium in Sigra is an ambitious project with a total budget of \u20b9180.03 crore (Phase 1: \u20b990.01 crore, Phase 2: \u20b990.02 crore). It was designed as a world-class hub for sports. It was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on October 20, 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Kashi stands today as a shining example of how heritage and modernity can thrive together. With transformative projects in infrastructure, tourism, health, education, and culture, the city is not just preserving its spiritual essence but also creating a vibrant, future-ready identity. From ghats to gateways of development, Kashi is truly ringing the bells of progress.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Building Modern India \u201cToday, Kashi stands not only as a symbol of antiquity but also as a beacon of progress.\u201d ~ Prime Minister Narendra Modi Introduction On April 11, PM Modi launched development projects worth \u20b93,880 crore in Kashi. The ancient city is getting a modern makeover. Roads are being widened; schools are being upgraded and new …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":42535,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[57],"tags":[80],"post_format":[],"flags":[],"class_list":["post-43059","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-india-news","tag-india"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43059","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=43059"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43059\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43060,"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43059\/revisions\/43060"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/42535"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=43059"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=43059"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=43059"},{"taxonomy":"post_format","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fpost_format&post=43059"},{"taxonomy":"flags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fflags&post=43059"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.pib.gov.in\/WriteReadData\/userfiles\/image\/image003P8HS.png\")
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1. MV Ganga Vilas: World\u2019s Longest River Cruise<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![](\"https:\/\/static.pib.gov.in\/WriteReadData\/userfiles\/image\/image005UBCU.png\")
2. Tent City: Riverside Luxury Experience<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![](\"https:\/\/static.pib.gov.in\/WriteReadData\/userfiles\/image\/image00691KT.png\")
3. Shri Kashi Vishwanath Corridor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![](\"https:\/\/static.pib.gov.in\/WriteReadData\/userfiles\/image\/image007H2YA.png\")
4. Monument Illumination Projects<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.pib.gov.in\/WriteReadData\/userfiles\/image\/image008PQ5L.png\")
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