Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth around Rs 191 billion in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Under the Smart City Mission, a website for detailed tourist information and the unified tourist pass system was launched by the PM. The unified pass will provide a single platform ticket booking for Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Ganga cruise and Sarnathās light and sound show, offering integrated QR code services.
The projects include inauguration of the New Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Nagar – New Bhaupur dedicated freight corridor project built at a cost of around Rs 109 billion among other railway projects. He flagged off the Varanasi-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express train, Dohrighat-Mau MEMU train and a pair of long haul goods trains at the newly-inaugurated dedicated freight corridor.
He also flagged off the 10,000th locomotive made by Banaras Locomotive Works. He inaugurated the Greenfield Shivpur-Phulwaria-Lahartara road along with two ROBs at a cost of over 3.7 billion. He laid the foundation stone for projects worth over65 billion, including an 800 MW solar park in Chitrakoot district at a cost of around 40 billion and widening of Varanasi-Bhadohi NH 731 B (Package-2) at a cost of over9 billion, apart from other projects.
