Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi visited Surat, Gujarat and Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh(UP) from 17th to 18th December 2023.
- During his 2 day visit, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for several development projects in both Gujarat and UP.
Highlights of PM’s Visit to Surat, Gujarat:
Inauguration of the new terminal building at Surat Airport:
On 17th December 2023, PM Modi inaugurated the state-of-the-art New Integrated Terminal Building (NITB) of Surat International Airport in Surat, Gujarat.
- This will enhance the travel experience and boost economic growth, tourism and connectivity.
Features:
i.The new terminal, a Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment(GRIHA IV) compliant, is equipped with various sustainability features.
Capacity: The facility can handle 1200 Domestic passengers and 600 International passengers during peak hours.
- It also has provision to further increase the peak hour capacity to 3000 passengers with annual handling capacity increasing to 55 lakh passengers.
Design: The design of the terminal features local culture and heritage. The front of the terminal features the rich and traditional woodwork of the old houses of the ‘Rander’ region of Surat City.
Points to note: On 15th December 2023, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi approved the proposal to declare Surat Airport as an International Airport.
Inauguration of Surat Diamond Bourse:
On 17th December 2023, PM Modi inaugurated the Surat Diamond Bourse(SDB), the World’s largest and most modern centre for international diamond and jewellery business.
- SDB is spread over 35.5 acres of land and has 9 towers with 4,500 offices which can accommodate over 67,000 traders.
- This will provide a one-stop shop for artisans, workers, and businessmen and will generate 1.5 lakh new jobs.
Note: The project is part of the Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City, a greenfield project spread over nearly 700 acres.
- The DREAM City project was initiated by the Government of Gujarat in 2015.
Features:
i.This will be a global centre for trading both rough and polished diamonds and Jewellery.
ii.This also comprises a state-of-the-art ‘Customs Clearance House’ for Import-Export; a Jewelry mall for retail jewellery business and a facility for International Banking and Safe Vaults.
iii.This is a Green building which can save up to 50% of energy and water and the Spine-4 structure an withstand strong earthquakes.
iv.The SDB also features a Panchtatva garden that showcases the 5 elements of nature.
Chairman of SDB: Vallabhbhai Patel
Highlights of PM Modi’s Visit to Varanasi, UP:
Inaugurated 2nd Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2023 held in Varanasi
On 17th December 2023, PM Modi inaugurated the 2nd phase of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2023 at Namo Ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
Participants: Around 1400 dignitaries from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry attended the Sangamam.
Aim: Kashi Tamil Sangamam aims to celebrate, reaffirm and rediscover the age-old links between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, the most important and ancient seats of learning in India.
Highlights:
i.PM Modi also flagged off the Kanyakumari – Varanasi Tamil Sangamam train and launched multi-language and braille translations of Thirukkural, Manimekalai and other classic Tamil literature during the event.
ii.PM Modi used Bhashini, also known as BHASa INterface for India or Digital India Bhashini, an Artificial Intelligence(AI)-based translation tool, during a speech at the cultural festival Kashi Tamil Sangamam.
About Bhashini:
i.Bhashini was launched by PM Modi in July 2023 during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
ii.It is a part of the National Language Translation Mission.
iii.This offers automatic speech recognition in 12 to 14 languages, text translation in 22 languages, and speech synthesis in 14 languages.
Laid Foundation Stone of Multiple Development Projects worth 19150 crore in UP
On 18th December 2023, during his visit to Varanasi, UP, PM Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated various development projects worth Rs 19,150 crore in Varanasi, UP.
Details of the Development projects:
i.PM Modi Inaugurated the New Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Nagar-New Bhaupur Dedicated Freight Corridor Project built at a cost of around Rs 10,900 crore.
- He also flagged off the Dohrighat-Mau Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) train and a pair of Long Haul goods trains in the newly inaugurated corridor.
- PM Modi also flagged off the 10000th Locomotive by Banaras Locomotive Works.
- He also inaugurated the Ballia-Ghazipur City rail line doubling project; the Indara-Dohrighat rail line gauge conversion project, among others.
ii.PM Modi also inaugurated the green-field Shivpur-Phulwaria-Lahartara road along with two Road Over Bridges (ROBs) at a cost of more than Rs 370 crores.
iii.He also inaugurated key projects including the strengthening and widening of 20 roads; Sangam Ghat road in Kaithi village and the construction of residential buildings in Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Hospital.
iv.PM Modi launched the website for detailed tourist information and the Unified Tourist Pass System under the Smart City Mission.
Other Noted Initiatives:
He also laid the foundation stone of various projects worth more than Rs 6500 crore. The projects include
i.80 MW(MegaWatt) Solar Park in Chitrakoot district, UP at a cost of Rs 4000 crore.
ii.New Petroleum Oil Terminal at Mirzapur(U.P.) at a cost of Rs1050 crore.
iii.Widening of Varanasi-Bhadohi National Highway (NH) 731 B (Package-2) at a cost of Rs 900 crore.
iv.69 rural drinking water schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission at a cost of Rs 280 crore.
v.Construction of 150-bed capacity Critical Care Unit in BHU(Banaras Hindu University) Trauma Center; Redevelopment work of 8 Ganga Ghats, construction work of Divyang residential secondary school among others.
Flagged off 2nd Varanasi-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express train:
PM Modi flagged off the 2nd Vande Bharat Express train on the Varanasi-New Delhi route.
- This will benefit travellers heading to Prayagraj, Kanpur and New Delhi, providing an additional fast and modern travel option.
- The regular operation of the Vande Bharat Express commenced on 20th December 2023.
Note: The first Vande Bharat Express between New Delhi and Varanasi was launched by PM Modi on 15 February 2019.
World’s Largest Meditation Centre in Uttar Pradesh
On 18th December 2023, PM Modi inaugurated Swarved Mahamandir, the world’s largest meditation centre in Umaraha, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. He was accompanied by Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister(CM) of Uttar Pradesh.
- The centre can accommodate about 20000 people at a time for meditation.
- The centre is named after the Swarveda, a spiritual text written by Sadguru Shri Sadafal Deoji Maharaj, Founder of Vihangam Yoga.
- Verses of Swerved have been inscribed on the walls of Mahamandir(7-floor structure).
About Gujarat:
Chief Minister– Bhupendrabhai Patel
Governor– Acharya Devvrat
Capital– Gandhinagar
Airport– Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Surat International Airport
About Uttar Pradesh(UP)
Chief Minister– Yogi Adityanath
Governor– Anandiben Patel
Capital– Lucknow
Airport– Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lal Bahadur Shastri
