These projects are living examples of new India's new vision: PM Modi gifts projects worth 2,413 crore to Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his visit to parliamentary constituency Varanasi on Monday, inaugurated a host of developmental projects including country's first multi-modal terminal on inland waterways, National Waterway-1. 

The Prime Minister also inaugurated two sewage infrastructure projects worth Rs 425.41 and laid the foundation stone for another project worth Rs 72.91 crore for Ramnagar.

These projects, along with two other ongoing projects of 120 MLD at Goitha and 50 MLD STP at Ramana, will take the sewage treatment capacity in the city to 412 MLD, news agency PTI reported. The projects will provide sewage treatment requirements to Varanasi till 2035 and prevent pollution of river Ganga from drains in Ramnagar, an official release said. As of now, there is no sewage treatment facility in Ramnagar town. 

During his address in Varanasi, the Prime Minister stated that "such projects should have been launched decades ago, but that did not happen". 

"Varanasi will witness the confluence of nature, culture and adventure," he added.  

Later in the day, the Prime Minister inaugurated Ring Road, Babatpur Airport road in the holy city. 

The 16.55-km-long Varanasi Ring Road Phase-I has been built at a cost of Rs 759.36 crore, while the work of four-laning and construction of 17.25 km Babatput-Varanasi road on NH-56 cost Rs 812.59 crore, an official release said.

The Ring Road, with two rail overbridges and a flyover, will allow traffic on NH 56 (Lucknow-Varanasi), NH 233 (Azamgarh-Varanasi), NH 29 (Gorakhpur-Varanasi) and Ayodhya-Varanasi highways to bypass Varanasi, thereby reducing traffic congestion in the city. This will reduce travel time, fuel usage and pollution in the area.

The Ring Road will provide easier and more convenient access to Sarnath, an important site for Buddhist pilgrimage. Besides, there are seven targeted projects of 235 km costing Rs 8,265 crore. Also, 20 projects for 1455 km roads are in detailed project report stage, PTI reported.

The Babatpur Airport highway will connect the city with the airport and go on to link Jaunpur, Sultanpur and Lucknow. With a flyover at Harhua and a rail overbridge at Tarna, it will reduce the travel time from Varanasi to the airport, providing a big relief to the people of the holy city and tourists.

While inaugurating the projects in Varanasi, PM Modi said, "These projects are living examples of new India's new vision."