Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on Tuesday for a two-day visit, where he received a grand welcome at the airport from Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and senior BJP leaders.
During his visit, PM Modi will participate in a Mahila Sammelan in Varanasi and inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for development projects worth around ₹6,350 crore, spanning sectors such as railways, roads, water supply, healthcare, tourism, and urban infrastructure.
At the event, PM Modi will dedicate over 48 completed projects worth more than ₹1,050 crore to the nation. Key works include the widening of the Varanasi–Azamgarh road, new rail overbridges at Kazzakpura and Kadipur, and a 55 MLD sewage treatment plant in Bhagwanpur. He will also inaugurate community-focused initiatives such as rural drinking water schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission, redevelopment of Chandrawati Ghat, and tourism projects near Sarnath.
PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone for over 112 projects worth around ₹5,300 crore. These include sewerage and water supply schemes under AMRUT 2.0, a 500-bed super-specialty hospital, critical care blocks, market complexes, and redevelopment of key ghats like Assi, Dashashwamedh, and Namo Ghat. Administrative infrastructure projects and social welfare facilities, including a child shelter home, are also part of the plan.
In a boost to rail connectivity, PM Modi will lay the foundation for additional railway lines between Varanasi Junction and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, along with a rail-cum-road bridge over the Ganga River to ease congestion and improve logistics.
He will also flag off two new Amrit Bharat Express trains – Banaras-Pune (Hadapsar) and Ayodhya-Mumbai (Lokmanya Tilak Terminus) -enhancing affordable long-distance travel and strengthening connectivity between Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
On April 29, PM Modi will offer prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple before travelling to Hardoi to inaugurate the ambitious Ganga Expressway.
The 594-kilometre-long, access-controlled greenfield expressway, built at a cost of around ₹36,230 crore, will connect Meerut to Prayagraj, reducing travel time from 10–12 hours to about six hours. Spanning 12 districts, the corridor is expected to significantly improve connectivity across western, central, and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
A key feature of the expressway is a 3.5-kilometre emergency landing facility in Shahjahanpur district, adding strategic value for defence operations.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said the Ganga Expressway is also envisioned as a major economic corridor, with plans for integrated manufacturing and logistics hubs along its route. The project is expected to reduce logistics costs, boost agriculture by improving market access for farmers, promote tourism, and generate employment across the region.
The expressway will integrate with other major road networks such as the Agra-Lucknow Expressway and upcoming link corridors, forming a high-speed connectivity grid across the state.
