The stench in the air is still there, bad roads are all over the place. The Ganga remains as polluted as ever. Heaps of garbage are strewn all around in streets choked with vehicles. Leave this aside and you will come across a lot of good that is happening to Varanasi in terms of infrastructure, textiles, tourism, education, business.
While this is still far from that being a Smart City, the ‘Varanasi model of development’ is all set to play a significant role in the forthcoming UP polls and the BJP is doing its utmost to ensure that the NaMo-Varanasi effect reaches far and wide across the state, particularly in eastern Uttar Pradesh, which has nearly 150 Assembly segments out of the total of 403.
Since Narendra Modi became prime minister in May 2014, he has visited Varanasi nine times. Each time he visits, he spends a considerable amount of time. With projects worth thousands of crores of rupees coming in, BJP is hoping that the Varanasi model will boost its tally in the upcoming elections in a state that has so far been dominated either by the SP or the BSP.
“There’s already a Modi lehar (wave) across UP. And the demonetization, appreciated by all sections of society despite the inconvenience it has caused, has boosted the party. As for the development of Varanasi, it is there everyone to see. Modiji’s radiance is sure to spread across UP,” says a local BJP leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “A lot of hard work has gone into the Varanasi model of development and this will reap benefits in 2019,’’
The list of projects announced for Varanasi is long and the lightning speed with which they are being carried out has left people pleasantly surprised and built up the anticipation of a NaMo lehar.
“Works are in full swing but development cannot take place overnight and the people of Banaras are willing to give Modiji a few more years to complete all that he has promised. After all, no development activity was happening earlier,’’ says D K Singh, a former faculty member of Banaras Hindu University.
“After all, seeking votes based on development is better than seeking votes on caste and religious issues,’’ he adds.
“It is high time people rose above caste and looked at developmental issues. At the end of the day, it is a good life that matters and I think Modiji is working in that direction,’’ opines Amod Shukla, a businessman who runs a shop near Assi ghat.
According to data available with the local BJP office in Varanasi, which also serves as a mini Prime Minister’s Office, the Prime Minister adopted Jayapur village and laid the foundation stone for a trade facilitation centre in November 2014. Then, at a cost of around Rs 45 crore, textile centres were opened. He announced that sick cooperative banks will be given an assistance of Rs 2,375 crore.
In the same month, as part of Swachch Bharat, the Assi ghat in Varanasi was cleaned and the BJP Jan Sampark office opened.
In December, the HRD ministry opened the first inter-university centre for teacher education, inaugurated Campus Connect, a wifi facility, the Rs 500 crore Mahmana National Institute while the Railway Ministry did its bit by opening workshops at a cost of Rs 213 crore.
Similarly in September 2015, the Rs 60,000 crore integrated power development scheme was launched, the foundation stone for a Rs 571 crore sub-station was laid, a Rs 165 crore trauma centre was launched at Banaras Hindu University, railway reservation centres at post offices were opened, the foundation stone for a Rs 629.25 crore flyover between Banaras and Babatpur was laid, as also the foundation stone for a Rs 261 crore ring road.
Again in December 2015, Narendra Modi visited Varanasi with the Japanese Prime Minister during which he announced the setting up of a convention centre and a bullet train to Varanasi.
In January 2016, a new train was introduced to Varanasi while a university for the handicapped was announced. In May, we-rickshaws were introduced along with e-boats along the Assi ghat. In October, announcements were made for laying a dual track between Varanasi and Allahabad, a foundation stone was laid for a perishable cargo centre, 765/400 KV Varanasi plant launched besides launching of a postal stamp based on Banaras.