New Delhi, April 29

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the sacred Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on Wednesday, where he took part in traditional rituals amid Vedic chants.

He was warmly welcomed at the temple with the rhythmic sounds of damru beats and shankhnaad. During the visit, the Prime Minister performed aarti and abhishek of Lord Shiva, seeking blessings. He was also presented with a trishul and damru by the temple administration.

Devotees gathered in large numbers, chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram,’ ‘Om Namah Shivaya,’ and ‘Har Har Mahadev,’ as the Prime Minister greeted them. The atmosphere turned festive, with even children eagerly stepping forward to catch a glimpse of him.

Following his temple visit, PM Modi is scheduled to travel to Hardoi to inaugurate the ambitious Ganga Expressway, built at a cost of ₹36,230 crore. He will also address a public gathering there.

The 594-kilometre-long expressway is a six-lane (expandable to eight lanes) high-speed corridor connecting key regions of Uttar Pradesh. It will pass through 12 districts, including Meerut, Prayagraj, Raebareli, and Shahjahanpur, creating seamless connectivity between western, central, and eastern parts of the state.

The project is expected to cut travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj from 10–12 hours to around six hours, improving transportation efficiency. A key feature is a 3.5-km emergency airstrip in Shahjahanpur, adding strategic value for national security.

Beyond connectivity, the expressway is planned as a major economic corridor, with integrated manufacturing and logistics hubs across thousands of hectares. It is expected to reduce logistics costs, boost industrial growth, support farmers with better market access, promote tourism, and create employment opportunities.

Officials say the Ganga Expressway will also strengthen Uttar Pradesh’s expanding road network, linking with other major routes like the Agra–Lucknow Expressway and upcoming corridors, ensuring balanced regional development across the state. WITH AGENCIES INPUT