The Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, on Monday in Varanasi, dedicated the multimodal terminal on the River Ganga to the nation, and received the first container cargo by inland waterways. He inaugurated the Varanasi Ring Road Phase 1 and the development and construction for four-laning of the Babatpur-Varanasi section of NH-56. He also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various other development projects in Varanasi.
Also gracing the occasion was Mr Nitin Gadkari, Union Shipping and Road Transport and Highways Minister, Mr Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, and other dignitaries.
Addressing a large and enthusiastic gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the development work that has happened today should have been completed decades ago. He said that along with Varanasi, the entire country is now witness to how the vision of next gen infrastructure can transform the means of transport.
Referring to the arrival of the first inland container vessel in Varanasi, the Prime Minister said that eastern Uttar Pradesh is now connected with the Bay of Bengal through the water route.
The Prime Minister said that the inland waterway would save time and money, reduce congestion on roads, reduce the cost of fuel and reduce vehicular pollution.
He highlighted that modern infrastructure has been built at a rapid pace in the last four years. Airports in remote areas, rail connectivity in parts of the North-East, rural roads and highways have become a part of the Union government’s identity.
