In an effort to provide better facilities and easier travel for pilgrims to the Ganga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Kashi-Vishwanath corridor project in Varanasi at 1 PM today, which costs an estimated ₹339 crore according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
The Prime Minister inaugurated the first phase of the corridor, which includes 23 buildings. It will have an easily accessible pathway that will connect the Kashi Vishwanath Temple to the banks of the Ganga, according to the statement. Numerous new facilities will be available to pilgrims visiting Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, including Yatri Suvidha Kendras, Tourist Facilitation Centre, Vedic Kendra, Mumukshu Bhavan, Bhogshala, City Museum, Viewing Gallery, Food Court, among others.
Prime Minister Modi began the build up to the event with a holy dip in Ganga, offering of prayers at the Kaal Bhairav temple, and accepted a pagdi (headgear) from a local.
The total project will span over 5 lakh square feet compared to the earlier premises, which were limited to just around 3,000 square feet. The project involved the purchase and acquisition of more than 300 properties around the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
According to the PMO statement, Modi has been closely involved in the project since he laid the foundation stone for it in March of 2019 and has provided input and insights at various intervals.
After the inauguration event which took place at 1 PM, PM Modi visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and offered prayers. While in Uttar Pradesh, be will also participate in a conclave of chief ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, along with deputy chief ministers from Bihar and Nagaland.
The conclave is being organised to provide "an opportunity to share governance-related best practices and is in line with the Prime Minister's vision of furthering team India spirit."