Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the six-lane Varanasi-Prayagraj Highway during his visit to Varanasi on the occasion of Dev Deepawali. The 73-kilometre stretch of the newly widened National Highway-19, which cost a total of ₹2,447 crore, will reduce the travel time between the pilgrimage cities by one hour.
He will also undertake a site visit of Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor Project, the Sarnath Archaeological Site and later attend Dev Deepawali in Varanasi.
The Prime Minister will light an earthen lamp at Raj Ghat in Varanasi to mark the beginning of the celebrations that is held on every 'poornima' of the Hindu month of Kartik. Eleven lakh earthen lamps with be lighted on both the banks of the Ganga.
He will also undertake a site visit of the under-construction Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor Project to review its progress. Besides, the PM will also watch a light and sound show at the archaeological site of Sarnath, which was inaugurated by him earlier this month.