Varanasi: As the Yogi Adityanath govt completed nine years in office, state finance minister Suresh Khanna said Kashi has witnessed Rs 35,000 crore infra push, with unprecedented development across all sectors giving PM Narendra Modi’s constituency a global identity.Addressing a press conference here, Khanna said, “Varanasi’s GDP has increased from Rs 22,586 crore in 2017 to Rs 56,900 crore now. Per capita income in the district has reached Rs 1,14,685. The development and construction work done in the district, establishing Kashi as a spiritual, cultural and modern urban model, played a key role in this growth story.”Over the past nine years, Kashi has witnessed 486 projects worth Rs 35,000 crore being completed, while works worth Rs 18,000 crore are in progress, Khanna said.He said over Rs 35,156 crore was spent on Kashi’s infrastructure, boosting the urban area by 5%. Heritage preservation, plus reforms in agriculture, industry, tourism, health, education, digital services, and social security, also got a push. Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Ring Road, Smart City, redevelopment of Ganga Ghats, Panchkroshi Yatra Marg, modern health institutions, expansion of digital services, financial assistance to farmers and entrepreneurs, and tourism-based infrastructure have given Kashi a global identity.Khanna revealed plans to develop a Kashi Sport City Township on 100-150 acres in Ganjari village, near the ongoing international cricket stadium, with cutting-edge facilities. To address the traffic pressure caused by the continuously increasing movement of heavy vehicles in the district, a Transport Nagar plan is being developed on 48 hectares. Work is underway on an Integrated Divisional Office Complex (ICCC) on 2.6 acres of land in the divisional commissioner’s office compound, with a plan to relocate 58 departments into a single building. The construction of Kajjakpura Bridge, costing Rs 144 crore, has also been completed. He informed that projects, including the International Cricket Stadium Ganjari, ropeway, hydrogen power vehicles for water transport, and expansion of airport terminal and runway will also be completed soon. Regarding UP’s achievements in the Yogi regime, Khanna said UP’s economic growth is being discussed in the country and the world. Improved law and order has accelerated the wheel of development, he said, adding that 18,452 hamlets have been provided with electricity connections, ensuring power supply to 1.18 lakh people. The govt has also provided jobs to 9 lakh people in UP. The state’s agricultural growth rate has increased from 8% to 18%. Under Ayushman Yojana, 7 crore people have got treatment.“We are continuously creating new dimensions of development under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of CM,” said Khanna.Khanna also attended the closing ceremony of a three-day exhibition, showcasing the state’s development saga. He inspected the stalls set up by various departments. A film was also screened at the programme on the completion of nine years of the govt.
