On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi and lay the groundwork for India’s first and the world’s third public transport ropeway. He will also unveil development projects worth over Rs 1,780 crore and speak at the ‘One World TB Summit’ on World Tuberculosis Day.
According to Abhishek Goyal, vice-president of the Varanasi Development Authority (VDA), “the country’s first public transport ropeway will operate from Cantt to Godaulia in Kashi in the first phase.” Pilgrims will be able to board the ropeway to reach Godaulia, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, and Dashashwamedh Ghat after the project is completed. They would not have to deal with traffic on the highways because of this service.”
Key Points
- The ropeway project will run from Varanasi Cantt station to Godowlia and is being built at a cost of Rs 645 crore. The ropeway system will cover a distance of 3.75 km with five stations, facilitating ease of movement and travel for tourists, pilgrims and residents of Varanasi.
- The construction of the ropeway will ease the path of devotees going to the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor. Anurag Tripathi, project director, National Highways Logistics Pvt Ltd, said that India would be the third country in the world after Bolivia and Mexico City to have a ropeway for public transport.
- PM Modi will address the ‘One World TB Summit’ and launch various initiatives, including the TB-free panchayat initiative, official rollout of a shorter TB Preventive Treatment (TPT) countrywide and a family-centric care model for TB. India’s annual TB Report 2023 will also released by the Prime Minister on Friday.
- During a programme at the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University ground, PM Modi will dedicate and lay the foundation stones of projects worth over Rs 1,780 crore.
- Among these is a 55 MLD sewage treatment plant at Bhagwanpur. This will be done under the Namami Ganga Scheme, the development of which will cost over Rs 300 crore, reported PTI.
- Under the Khelo India Scheme, the foundation stone of Phase 2 and 3 of redevelopment work of the Sigra Stadium will be laid by the Prime Minister.
- He will also dedicate a total of 19 drinking water programmes for the benefit of over three lakh residents in about 63 panchayats under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
- To further strengthen the rural drinking water system, he will also lay the foundation stone of 59 drinking water schemes under the mission.