Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 19 (HBTV): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath felicitated Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Varanasi, where the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects worth approximately INR 2,200 crore.

Addressing the occasion, CM Yogi Adityanath hailed PM Modi's leadership, stating, 'Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Kashi at a time when the world has witnessed India's strength and resolve through Operation Sindoor. This is the new India, which possesses both the capability and the courage to bring the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack to justice.'

On his 51st visit to his Lok Sabha constituency, Varanasi, PM Modi inaugurated the widening and strengthening of the Varanasi-Bhadohi road and the Chhitauni-Shool Tankeshwar road, as well as the Railway Overbridge at Hardattpur, aimed at easing congestion on the Mohan Sarai-Adalpura Road. He also laid the foundation stone for comprehensive road expansion across several rural and urban corridors, including Dalmandi, Lahartara-Kotwa, Gangapur and Babatpur, along with Railway Overbridges at Level Crossing 22C and Khalispur Yard.

Strengthening the power infrastructure in the region, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of various works under the Smart Distribution Project and the undergrounding of electrical infrastructure worth over INR 880 crore.

In a boost to tourism, the Prime Minister inaugurated the redevelopment of eight riverfront kuccha ghats, development works at Kalika Dham, beautification of the pond and ghat at Rangildas Kutiya, Shivpur, and the restoration and water purification of Durgakund. He also laid the foundation stone for restoration work at Kardameshwar Mahadev Temple, development of Karkhiyaon—the birthplace of several freedom fighters—City Facility Centres at Sarnath, Rishi Mandvi and Ramnagar Zones, redevelopment of Munshi Premchand's ancestral house in Lamahi and upgradation of the museum. Additionally, he laid the foundation stone for the development of an Urban Miyawaki Forest at Kanchanpur and the beautification of Shaheed Udyan and 21 other parks.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated water purification and maintenance works at various kunds, including Ramkund, Mandakini and Shankuldhara, alongside the installation of four floating pujan platforms. To ensure access to potable water in rural areas, he inaugurated 47 rural drinking water schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

Furthering his vision of quality education for all, the Prime Minister inaugurated the upgradation of 53 school buildings within the municipal boundary. He also laid the foundation stone for several educational projects, including the construction of a new district library and the rejuvenation of Government High Schools at Jakhini and Lalpur.

In a major boost to health infrastructure, PM Modi inaugurated advanced medical equipment installations and laid the foundation stone of a Homoeopathic College and Hospital. He also inaugurated an Animal Birth Control Centre and an associated Dog Care Centre. (ANI)