Uttar Pradesh: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Varanasi today, people in the city decorated their homes with lights. PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of an international cricket stadium in his Lok Sabha constituency.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of the cricket stadium in Ganjari. He will then address a rally of over 5,000 women at the Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023," Varanasi Commissioner Kaushal Raj Sharma said on Friday.
The Uttar Pradesh government, in a press statement on Thursday, said that it has spent Rs 121 crore to acquire the land for the stadium while the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will spend Rs 330 crore on its construction.
According to the statement, cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, and Ravi Shastri, among others are likely to attend the ceremony. BCCI President Roger Binny, its Vice President Rajiv Shukla and Secretary Jay Shah will attend the event.
The "essence of Kashi" will be visible in the design of the 30,000-capacity stadium which will feature crescent-shaped roof covers, floodlights shaped like a trident, patterns resembling bel leaves, and one of the structures shaped like a 'damru', a hand percussion instrument associated with Lord Shiva.
The spectators' gallery of the stadium will resemble the steps of the ghats of Varanasi. Situated near the Ring Road in Rajatalab area, it is likely to be ready by December 2025, it said.
Ahead of Prime Minister's visit, BCCI secretary Jay Shah has already arrived in Varanasi.
Former India cricket captain Kapil Dev and BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla have also arrived in Varanasi.
After laying the foundation stone, PM Modi will address a rally of women supporters where he will speak about the women's reservation bill passed by Parliament, an official said.
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate 16 newly constructed Atal Residential Schools.
With inputs from PTI
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