PM Modi in Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed women at the Nari Shakti Vandan Abhinandan Karyakram held in Varanasi today (September 23). He had earlier laid the foundation stone of an international cricket stadium in his parliamentary constituency. The cricket stadium in Varanasi, which is also PM Modi's Lok Sabha constituency, will be a step towards realising his vision to develop modern, world-class sports infrastructure.
"The success India is witnessing in sports is evidence of the change in outlook towards sports. The government is helping sportspersons at every level; TOPS is one such scheme of the government," said PM Modi.
PM M Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath met cricket legends after the foundation stone laying of international cricket stadium in Varanasi today.PM Modi greeted people after arriving at the event venue on Saturday. Sachin Tendulkar was present in the programme with PM Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath at the event to mark the foundation stone laying of the international cricket stadium.
Highlights of stadium:
The international cricket stadium, to be built in Ganjari, Rajatalab, will be developed in more than 30 acres of area at a cost of about Rs 450 crore. The Uttar Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has spent Rs 121 crore on acquiring the land and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will spend around Rs 331 crore on this project.
The thematic architecture of the stadium draws inspiration from Lord Shiva, with designs developed for crescent-shaped roof covers, trident-shaped floodlights and ghat steps-based seating arrangements. The stadium will have a capacity to accommodate 30,000 spectators and it will take at least 30 months to construct it.
Who attended the ceremony?
Cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, Madan Lal, and Dilip Vengsarkar among others attended the ceremony. Earlier, the former cricketers visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in the city.
The essence of Kashi will be visible in the design of the stadium which features crescent-shaped roof covers, floodlights shaped like a trident, patterns resembling bel leaves, and one of the structures shaped like a 'damru', a musical instrument associated with Lord Shiva.
There will be a spectator gallery resembling the steps of the ghats in Varanasi and the stadium will have a capacity of 30,000 spectators and seven pitches. Situated near the Ring Road in Rajatalab area, it is likely to be ready by December 2025.
Key figures of the BCCI, including President Roger Binny, Vice President Rajiv Shukla, and Secretary Jay Shah will attend the event. After Kanpur and Lucknow, this will be Uttar Pradesh's third international cricket stadium.
Another golden chapter is going to be added: UP CM Yogi Adityanath
A day ahead of his visit to Varanasi, to lay the foundation stone of the International Cricket Stadium, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday extended a welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that tomorrow another golden chapter is going to be added in Kashi.
Taking to the social media platform, X, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said, "Tomorrow another golden chapter is going to be added in the journey of Baba Shri Vishwanath ji's holy city Kashi. Respected Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji will lay the foundation stone of 'International Cricket Stadium' costing approximately Rs 451 crores in Varanasi tomorrow."
Other events of PM Modi in Varanasi:
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said on Thursday (September 21) that Modi will also participate in the closing ceremony of the Kashi Sansad Sanskritik Mahotsav at the Rudraksh International Cooperation and Convention Centre and later, inaugurate 16 Atal residential schools built across Uttar Pradesh.
Atal Awasiya Vidyalaya:
With an aim to further enhance access to quality education, 16 "Atal Awasiya Vidyalaya" built at a cost of about Rs 1,115 crore have been started exclusively for the children of labourers, construction workers and those orphaned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with an aim to provide quality education and help in their holistic development, the statement said.
Each school is constructed in an area of 10-15 acres with classrooms, sports grounds, recreational areas, a mini auditorium, hostel complex, mess and residential flats for the staff. These residential schools intend to eventually accommodate 1,000 students each.
The statement said the Kashi Sansad Sanskritik Mahotsav was conceptualised to strengthen the cultural vibrancy of the holy city of Varanasi.
It witnessed the participation of more than 37,000 people across 17 disciplines. The participants displayed their skills in singing, playing musical instruments, "nukkad natak" and dancing, among other art forms, it added.
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