In the first full meeting since the portfolio allocation, the Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a big gift for Varanasi. The Airports Authority of India’s proposal for the development of Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi including the construction of a new terminal building, apron extension, runway extension, parallel taxi track and allied works has been given a go ahead on Wednesday.
Varanasi, traditionally known as Kashi, holds a very special place in the heart of PM Modi. He has been elected as a Lok Sabha MP from there in 2014, 2019 and 2024. After winning all the three terms, Modi had been elected to the office of the Prime Minister of India.
“The estimated financial outgo will be Rs 2869.65 crore for enhancing the passenger handling capacity of the airport to 9.9 million passengers per annum (MPPA) from the existing 3.9 MPPA. The New Terminal Building, which encompasses an area of 75,000 sqm, is designed for a capacity of 6 MPPA and for handling 5000 Peak Hour Passengers (PHP). It is designed to offer a glimpse of the vast cultural heritage of the city,” the government said in its official brief.
It further added, “The proposal includes extending the runway to dimensions 4075m x 45m and constructing a new Apron to park 20 aircraft. Varanasi airport will be developed as a green airport with the primary objective of ensuring environmental sustainability through energy optimisation, waste recycling, carbon footprint reduction, solar energy utilisation, and incorporation of natural daylighting, alongside other sustainable measures throughout the planning, development, and operational stages.”
Very recently, PM Modi distributed the 17th instalment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi during a function in Kashi. Through this, 9.3 crore farmers received DBT into their accounts at an estimated cost of Rs 20,000 crore.
The glorious town of Kashi has seen a major facelift ever since Modi became its public representative a decade ago. Right from the redevelopment of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple corridor to making a rudraksh meditation centre, Modi, just earlier this year in February, also laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth more than Rs 13,000 crore in Varanasi.
To further enhance road connectivity in Varanasi, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple road projects including four laning of Ghargra-Bridge-Varanasi section of NH-233; four laning of Sultanpur-Varanasi section of NH-56, Package-1; six laning of phase-1 of Varanasi-Aurangabad section of NH-19; four laning of Package-1 Varanasi-Hanumana section on NH-35; and ROB on Varanasi- Jaunpur rail section near Babatpur. He also laid the foundation stone for the construction of Varanasi-Ranchi-Kolkata Expressway Package-1.
To provide impetus to industrial development in the region, the Prime Minister inaugurated LPG Bottling Plant by HPCL in Sewapuri; Banas Kashi Sankul milk processing unit in UPSIDA Agro Park Karkhiyaon; various infrastructure works at UPSIDA Agro Park, Karkhiyaon; and silk fabric printing common facility center for weavers.
The Prime Minister inaugurated multiple urban development projects in Varanasi including Urban Waste to Charcoal Plant by NTPC at Ramana; upgradation of water supply network in sis-Varuna area; and online effluent monitoring and SCADA automation of STPs and Sewerage Pumping Stations. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of multiple projects for the beautification of Varanasi including the projects for the rejuvenation of ponds and redevelopment of parks; and for the design and development of a 3D Urban Digital map and database.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated multiple projects related to tourism and spiritual tourism in Varanasi. The projects include the redevelopment of public facilities at five Padavs of Panchkoshi Parikrama Marg and Pavan Path with ten spiritual yatra; launching of electric catamaran vessel provided by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) for Varanasi & Ayodhya; and seven change rooms floating jetties and four community jetties. The Electric catamaran will enhance the tourism experience in the Ganges with the use of green energy. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of thirteen community jetties of IWAI at various cities and quick pontoon opening mechanism at Ballia.
Providing impetus to the famous textile sector of Varanasi, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Varanasi. The new institute will strengthen the education and training infrastructure of the textile sector.
Augmenting the health infrastructure in Varanasi, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of a new Medical College in Varanasi. He also laid the foundation stone of National Centre of Ageing at BHU. The Prime Minister inaugurated the Sigra Sports Stadium Phase-1 and District Rifle Shooting Range, a step towards strengthening the sports infrastructure in the city.
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