Projects worth Rs 50k crore transformed Kashi in 11 years of PM Narendra Modi’s regime, says Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath

VARANASI: Highlighting how Kashi transformed in the past 11 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s regime with projects worth Rs 50,000 crores, chief minister Yogi Adityanath said every devotee is eager to witness the splendour of this city, which was once known for its narrow streets and traffic jams.
While welcoming the PM on his maiden Kashi visit following the BJP's resounding victories in the Haryana, Maharashtra, and Delhi Assembly elections, as well as after the successful hosting of the divine and grand Mahakumbh, Yogi, in his address at the Mehdiganj public meeting on Friday, said, “Over the past 11 years, Kashi underwent a remarkable transformation under the visionary leadership and guidance of the PM, and devotees from across the globe are witnessing it. This is the same Kashi, which was once known for its narrow lanes and persistent traffic congestion. Today, it stands tall as a symbol of modern development seamlessly blending with its ancient heritage.”

Yogi said that being an ancient seat of learning, its educational institutions were once in disarray. “But, in the past 11 years of the PM's regime, projects worth more than Rs 50,000 crore focusing on health, tourism, infrastructure, and connectivity were launched and ensured the transformation of the city. Even today, the PM gifted projects worth nearly Rs 4,000 crore to Kashi."
“Over three crore devotees from India and abroad visited Kashi during the 45-day Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj. Every pilgrim was eager to see the transformed city and pay homage at the newly rejuvenated shrine of Lord Vishwanath,” he said, terming Maha Kumbh's unmatched success and grandeur a result of the PM’s unwavering commitment to cleanliness, safety, and cultural revitalisation. Yogi emphasised how initiatives like the Namami Gange project rejuvenated the sacred rivers and enhanced the spiritual experience for millions.
“Every devotee who took a dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati felt a deep sense of spiritual fulfilment — a testament to the transformative impact of the PM’s vision,” he said.
Yogi noted that the PM’s dedicated efforts to bring national and international recognition to Kashi and Uttar Pradesh products have yielded remarkable results.
He said, "Today, Kashi and its surrounding districts hold the highest number of GI tags, positioning UP at the forefront in this domain. Further strengthening this achievement, the Prime Minister is awarding certificates for 21 new GI tags today—a significant step in promoting the unique identity of local artisans and craftsmen on both national and global platforms."
Yogi also highlighted the transformative impact of welfare schemes and said that Ayushman Bharat emerged as a milestone in ensuring accessible healthcare for the underprivileged. Over 50 crore people across the country — including more than 10 crore in Uttar Pradesh — benefited directly from the scheme. He added that through the Vaya Vandana Yojana, senior citizens above 70 are now entitled to free health coverage of Rs five lakh. In Kashi alone, over 50,000 elderly residents received Vaya Vandana health cards.
Yogi also praised the Banas Dairy initiative, calling it a transformative project that successfully linked Kashi's farmers and livestock rearers with economic empowerment. Today, as part of this initiative, the Prime Minister distributes bonus payments to cattle rearers who have benefited from value addition and profit-sharing through the Banas Dairy unit in Kashi, he said.
“In every sphere — be it tourism, education, healthcare, connectivity, or the upliftment of farmers and artisans — these initiatives reshaped the destiny of Kashi,” said Yogi, adding further, “On behalf of the people of Kashi and the entire state, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the PM for these visionary schemes that brought about a new era of development in his very own Kashi.”
To mark the occasion, Yogi welcomed the PM with a shawl adorned with illustrations of Radha-Krishna’s Leelas and presented him with a handcrafted 'Kamal Chatra'—a Varanasi GI-tagged woodcraft and a symbol of the city's rich artisanal heritage.
On this occasion, Governor Anandi Ben Patel, Deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brijesh Pathak, Gujarat Assembly Speaker Shankar Bhai Chaudhary, and Bharatiya Janata Party State President Chaudhary Bhupendra Singh, along with a big band of UP ministers and public representatives, also remained present at the dais.