Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Varanasi on Saturday, August 2, 2025, to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth around ₹2,200 crore. During his visit, he also released the 20th installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme.
The development projects span across various sectors, including infrastructure, education, healthcare, tourism, urban development, and cultural heritage. Key infrastructure projects include the four-lane widening of the Varanasi-Bhadohi road and the Chhitauni-Shool Tankeshwar road. A railway overbridge at Hardattpur was also commissioned to ease traffic on the Mohan Sarai-Adalpura road. Additionally, foundation stones were laid for road-widening projects in Dalmandi, Lahartara-Kotwa, and Gangapur, as well as for new overbridges at LC No. 22C and Khalispur Yard.
In an effort to modernize the power sector, the Prime Minister laid the foundation for power infrastructure upgrades worth over ₹880 crore under the Smart Distribution Project, which includes underground cabling. He also inaugurated the redevelopment of eight riverfronts and laid the foundation stone for water purification and maintenance works at various kunds, along with the installation of four floating pujan platforms. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, 47 rural drinking water schemes were also inaugurated.
Further enhancements include the upgradation of 53 school buildings, with foundation stones laid for several other educational projects. In healthcare, advanced medical equipment, such as robotic surgery and CT scan facilities, were inaugurated at the Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Cancer Centre and Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital. The foundation stone was also laid for a new government homoeopathic medical college and hospital.
To boost the tourism sector and preserve cultural heritage, Modi laid the foundation stone for the restoration work at Kardameshwar Mahadev Temple and for the redevelopment of Munshi Premchand's ancestral house in Lamahi, with plans to upgrade it into a museum. Development works at Kalika Dham were also initiated. Furthermore, he laid the foundation stone for the development of an Urban Miyawaki Forest at Kanchanpur, as well as for the redevelopment and beautification of Shaheed Udyan and 21 other parks.
On the occasion, the 20th installment of the PM-KISAN scheme was released, with ₹20,500 crore being directly transferred to the bank accounts of over 9.70 crore eligible farmers nationwide. Since its launch in 2019, the PM-KISAN scheme has transferred ₹3.69 lakh crore to farmers across 19 installments. Under this scheme, every eligible farming family receives an annual benefit of ₹6,000, distributed in three equal installments of ₹2,000 every four months.
Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had previously chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparations for the event, emphasizing the importance of maximizing outreach and farmer participation. He also encouraged farmers to attend programs held at various locations to listen to the Prime Minister's address.
