Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a gathering in his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi. He launched developmental schemes worth about over Rs 550 crore to Varanasi that included dedicating developmental projects and laying foundation stone of schemes. The event was held at the amphitheatre of Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

The Prime Minister arrived in the city, the day of his 68th birthday, during which he interacted with young school children and also 75 slum kids. He also met around 200 Anganwadi and Asha Workers.

The main facts related to national highways:

• Their total length is 34 kilometers and on this construction, 95 crore has been spent. In the first phase of Varanasi Ring Road, construction of 16.55 km long road at a cost of Rs. 759.36 crores has been completed while Rs. 812.59 crores, on the National Highway 56, on the Babatpur-Varanasi highway, four laning along with 17.25 kms Has been built.
• More employment opportunities will be available from these projects. The development of small and medium industries will lead to economic progress in this area.
• At present, total 2833 km long national highway projects are under construction for connecting Varanasi with other places of Eastern Uttar Pradesh at a cost of Rs 63,885

Key facts related to Inland Waterways Terminal:

• This is the first terminal in four multi-model terminals manufactured on the NW-1 (river Ganges) as part of the World Bank-assisted water route development project of the Inland Waterways Authority of India.
• The other three terminals are under construction in Sahibganj, Haldia and Ghazipur.
• This project will provide commercial navigation capability to vessels with capacity of 1500-2,000 DWT on river Ganges.
• The Prime Minister will also receive the first container material (after independence) of the inland waterway ship sent to the ship.
• This container contains goods of PepsiCo, a food and beverage company, which has run from Kolkata in the last week of October.