Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Varanasi on Friday evening on a two-day visit . His special plane landed at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Babatpur , around 5 pm, where he was given a grand welcome by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath .
From the airport, PM Modi departed for the BLW Guest House by road . His convoy traveled via Babatpur, Harhua, Gilat Bazaar, JP Mehta, and the Phulwaria flyover to Bareka . Thousands of people warmly welcomed the Prime Minister along the way. Flower showers, cultural programs , and chants of “Modi, Modi,” “Har Har Mahadev,” filled the entire route. Everyone, from children to the elderly, welcomed their MP.
The enthusiasm of the citizens of Kashi was palpable. Prime Minister Modi even waved to the public from his vehicle. The entire route was illuminated with saffron and tricolor lights , creating a festive atmosphere in the city.
On November 8th, the Prime Minister will unveil four new Vande Bharat Express trains for the residents of Kashi . The most prominent of these will be the Varanasi-Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express , which will be flagged off from Varanasi (formerly Manduadih) station. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and several other dignitaries will be present on the occasion.
Apart from this, the Prime Minister will flag off three other trains virtually –
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Lucknow-Saharanpur Vande Bharat Express
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Firozpur-Delhi Vande Bharat Express
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Ernakulam-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express
The Prime Minister can also interact with the people present at Banaras station.
The operation of the Varanasi-Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express is expected to provide a new impetus to religious and cultural tourism . The train will connect major religious and historical destinations such as Varanasi, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, and Khajuraho . The new train will reduce travel time by approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes compared to existing services , providing passengers with a fast, comfortable, and modern travel experience .
This train will provide direct and easy connectivity to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Khajuraho , which is expected to give a new economic impetus to the tourism industry of North India.
The local administration has made special security and traffic arrangements for the Prime Minister’s visit to Kashi. This visit is being seen as the beginning of a new era of development and connectivity in Purvanchal .