VARANASI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development works worth around ₹2,200 crore in his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. On the occasion, he also released the 20th instalment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, transferring over ₹20,500 crore directly to the bank accounts of 9.7 crore farmers across India.
Speaking at the event during the auspicious month of Sawan, the Prime Minister expressed his deep emotional bond with the people of Kashi. He said, “With Baba’s blessings, the uninterrupted stream of development continues to flow in Varanasi.”
Boost to Infrastructure, Education, Tourism, and Health
The development package covers multiple sectors including infrastructure, education, healthcare, tourism, urban development, and cultural heritage. Key highlights include:
- Road & Transport: Widening and strengthening of the Varanasi–Bhadohi road, construction of new rail overbridges, rural and urban road upgrades, and congestion easing projects.
- Power Supply: ₹880 crore worth of projects under the Smart Distribution Project and undergrounding of electrical infrastructure.
- Tourism & Heritage: Redevelopment of riverfront ghats, beautification of Maa Kalka Dham, restoration of historic kunds, preservation of Munshi Premchand’s ancestral house, and establishment of an Urban Miyawaki Forest.
- Education: Upgradation of 53 schools, construction of a new district library, and rejuvenation of government high schools.
- Healthcare: Installation of advanced medical equipment including robotic surgery and CT scan facilities at Mahamana Cancer Centre, foundation of a Homoeopathic College & Hospital, and a new Animal Birth Control Centre.
- Sports & Law Enforcement: Synthetic hockey turf at Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Stadium, multipurpose hall at PAC Ramnagar, and new Quick Response Team barracks.
Farmer Welfare: PM-KISAN and New Initiatives
The PM announced that under the PM-Kisan scheme, ₹3.75 lakh crore has been directly transferred to farmers since its inception, benefitting 2.5 crore farmers in Uttar Pradesh alone.
Highlighting new measures, he announced:
- Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana – ₹24,000 crore allocation for low-output districts to boost agricultural productivity.
- Record hikes in Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for major crops.
- Thousands of new warehouses to protect harvests.
- Initiatives like Lakhpati Didi and Drone Didi empowering rural women in agriculture.
- The PM Fasal Bima Yojana providing ₹1.75 lakh crore in insurance claim settlements to farmers.
‘From Seed to Market, We Stand with Farmers’
Reiterating the government’s commitment, PM Modi said, “Our government is working with full strength to transform the lives of farmers, increase their income, and reduce the cost of cultivation. We stand firmly with farmers from seed to market.”
He urged citizens to adopt the ‘Vocal for Local’ mantra and take a pledge for Swadeshi, saying that every household should promote Indian-made products, especially during the festival season.
The event also featured the launch of Kashi Sansad Pratiyogita competitions, distribution of assistive aids to over 7,400 Divyangjan and elderly beneficiaries, and announcements for upcoming cultural and employment fairs in the city.
