Projects worth Rs 1,000 cr for Varanasi

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, September 22

Dedicating development projects worth over Rs 1,000 crore to his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the solution to all problems was development which was hated by previous governments.

Among the 17 projects dedicated to the city is Rs 305-crore Trade Facilitation Centre for handicrafts — ‘Deendayal Hastkala Sankul’ — under the Ministry of Textiles. During his first visit to Varanasi after the installation of the BJP government in UP, Modi was generous in his praise for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for accelerating and completing a number of development projects in his constituency.

Referring to the trade centre, Modi said it would enable weavers and other artisans to work and sell their products directly to the buyer, including foreign tourists.

“It would provide the famed Varanasi weavers of the much-needed global market where they can dazzle the world with their craftsmanship and contribute to their economic growth,” he said. Recalling his interactions with weavers during his 2014 election campaign, he said many weavers had confided in him that their children no longer wanted to stay in the ancestral occupation because of poor returns.

“I wanted to do something for them so that they continue to astound the world, else a legacy would have been lost forever,” said Modi.

Flagging off a direct Varanasi-Vadodara rail link via Surat, the PM said in 2014 he had contested from both places and won but decided to vacate the Vadodara seat as he knew there were others who would take care of its development.

“I chose Varanasi as I wanted to give it a push that will propel the region. The train is a step in that direction,” he said. Modi’s hectic schedule during his 2-day trip to his constituency includes visits to various temples in the holy city during Navratri.

Visits to the historic Tulsi Manas Temple, Durga Mata Temple and release of a postal stamp on Ramayana are on his itinerary. He will also meet party workers along with BJP state chief Mahendra Nath Pandey, the CM and the deputy CM.