Varanasi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that Kashi, which is represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi the world’s most popular leader, has seen restoration of its pristine glory as a spiritual and cultural centre of the country in the last eight years, along with transformation of its appearance with better infrastructure, cleanliness and beautification of Ghats and renovation of temples.
Addressing Prabuddh Jan Sammelan at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University Ground, Yogi said that it was because of these changes that while earlier the city witnessed arrival of one crore tourists in a year, now one crore tourists visit the city in a month itself. “Till 2016, sewer water used to flow on the roads and there were heaps of garbage on the streets while the condition of the Ghats was pathetic in Kashi, but today the change is in front of all of us.”
He said, “Today, Kashi has four lane connectivity from all sides. Along with this, it is connected through air services to all major cities of the country. Ghats have been beautified and the city cleaned. Besides, the city is emerging as a major educational and health centre.”
The CM mentioned in this context the setting up of a cancer institute and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Cancer Hospital and launch of new facilities in hospitals. Expressing gratitude to the PM, he said that he introduced for the first time Inland Waterways in Kashi which is helping export food grains, fruits, vegetables and One District One Products of UP to foreign countries.
Emphasising that this pace of development should not be allowed to stop, the CM said that BJP’s victory in the municipal elections would strengthen the triple engine model of development, ensuring progress like a bullet train.
Yogi said that an excellent environment of security has been created with traders and women feeling safe in UP. “During Covid pandemic, an Integrated Command and Control Center was set up, which not only ensured traffic, garbage and Covid management, but also helps monitor activities of anti-social elements through CCTV cameras and take them to task,” he said
The CM said that UP 45 lakh houses have been given to the poor and needy under PM Awas Yojana benefitting around 2.5 crore people of which 43000 houses have been provided in Kashi alone. He said that 2.61 crore toilets have been built for the poor.
He said that as India embarks on the journey to realise PM Modi’s goal of making the country a 5 trillion dollar economy, UP must perform as the growth engine of the country. “However, the preconditions for making UP the growth engine are taking forward the programmes of urbanisation, investment, employment, skill development, developing education and health centers in a robust manner,” he said
The CM said that as India celebrates Amrit Mahotsav of Independence, country’s global prestige has improved and the country is the fastest growing economy of the world under the leadership of the PM. “Today India has become the fifth largest economy in the world, surpassing Britain, which ruled the country for two hundred years, behind. Apart from this, India is leading the G20 in Amrit Kaal. G20 countries control 75 percent of the world’s trade, and have rights over 85 percent of GDP and 90 percent patents while 60 percent of the world’s population lives here. India has got the opportunity to lead these 20 countries,” he said.
Talking about employment, Yogi said that that 10 lakh Agniveers are being recruited across the country under Mission Rozgar, who after retiring will be given jobs by state governments.
The CM also gave gifts worth crores of rupees to the beneficiaries of various schemes run by the Central and State Governments. He handed over the keys of the houses to the beneficiaries of the Prime Minister and Chief Minister’s housing schemes, in addition to distributing tablets to the students.
