For the last four years, efforts are being made to develop Kashi in accordance with the requirements of the 21st century: PM
New Banaras - a blend of spirituality and modernity - is being developed, for a New India: PM Modi
Kashi is emerging as an important international tourist destination, says PM Modi
Work is in full swing for an Integrated Command and Control Centre, that would make Varanasi a Smart City: PM
Smart City Initiative is not just a mission to improve infrastructure in cities, but also a mission to give India a new identity: PM Modi

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated, or laid  the foundation stone of important projects, cumulatively worth over Rs. 900 crore, in Varanasi. Among the projects inaugurated are the Varanasi City Gas Distribution Project, and the Varanasi-Ballia MEMU train. The foundation stone was laid for the PanchkoshiParikrama Marg, and several projects under the Smart City Mission and NamaamiGange. The Prime Minister also laid the Foundation Stone for an International Convention Centre in Varanasi.

Addressing a public meeting on the occasion, the Prime Minister began by congratulating the young athleteHima Das for winning the gold medal in the 400 meters event in the Under 20 World Athletics Championship.

The Prime Minister said that for the last four years, efforts are being made to develop the city of Kashi in accordance with the requirements of the 21st century, keeping its ancient identity intact. He said a New Banaras - a blend of spirituality and modernity - is being developed, for a New India.

He said a glimpse of this new Banaras is now visible all around. He said significant investment has been made in Varanasi over the last four years. He said that the projects worth nearly 1000 crore that were either inaugurated, or for which the Foundation Stone was laid today, is a part of this ongoing exercise.

The Prime Minister elaborated upon his vision of Transfornation through Transportation, and said the Foundation Stone of the Poorvanchal Expressway at Azamgarh today was part of the same exercise.

The Prime Minister said that Varanasi is emerging as a centre for medical science in the region. He said BHU will work with AIIMS to develop a world class health institute.

The Prime Minister spoke of initiatives taken for better connectivity in Varanasi and the region. He said Kashi is emerging as an important international tourist destination. In this context he mentioned the International Convention Centre, the Foundation Stone for which was laid today. He thanked the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe, for this gift from Japan to the people of Varanasi. He appreciated the initiatives taken by the people and the State Government of Uttar Pradesh for tourism, and under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

The Prime Minister mentioned the poor condition of roads and other infrastructure in Varanasi, four years ago. He said the waste of the city was going unchecked into the River Ganga. Today, he said, by contrast, efforts are underway to clean the Ganga from Gangotri till the ocean. He spoke of the various projects for sewage treatment. He said the fruits of all these efforts would become apparent in the future. He asserted that work is in full swing for an Integrated Command and Control Centre, that would make Varanasi a Smart City. He said the Smart City Initiative is not just a mission to improve infrastructure in cities, but also a mission to give India a new identity. He complimented the State Government for its Industrial Policy, and investment climate, and said the results of this have started to become evident. He mentioned the mobile manufacturing unit of Samsung, inaugurated recently in Noida. He said mobile manufacturing units are creating lakhs of jobs.

Speaking of the city gas distribution project, the Prime Minister said that 8000 houses in Varanasi have already received piped cooking gas connections. He also mentioned the use of CNG as fuel for public transport in the city.

The Prime Minister recalled how the city of Varanasi had welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and French President Emmanuel Macron. He said another occasion for Varanasi to showcase its hospitality was coming soon, with the PravasiBharatiya Divas in January 2019.

 

 

 Click here to read PM's speech

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Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the President of France, H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron jointly addressed the 14th India-France CEOs Forum today in Paris. The forum brought together CEOs from a diverse group of companies from both sides, focusing on sectors such as defence, aerospace, critical and emerging technologies, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, life-sciences, wellness and lifestyle, and food and hospitality.

Prime Minister in his address noted the expanding India-France business and economic collaboration and the impetus it has provided to the strategic partnership between the two countries. He highlighted India’s attractiveness as a favored global investment destination, based on its stable polity and predictable policy ecosystem. Talking of the reforms announced in the recent budget, PM noted that the insurance sector was now open for 100% FDI and civil nuclear energy sector for private participation with focus on SMR and AMR technologies; customs rate structure was rationalized; and simplified income tax code was being brought in to enhance Ease of Living. Referring to the government’s commitment to continue ushering in reforms, he noted that a high-level committee for regulatory reforms had been constituted to establish trust based economic governance. In the same spirit, more than 40,000 compliances had been rationalized in the last few years.

Prime Minister invited French companies to look at the immense opportunities offered by the India growth story, in the defense, energy, highway, civil aviation, space, healthcare, fintech and sustainable development sectors. Underlining global appreciation and interest in India’s skills, talent and innovation and in its newly launched AI, Semiconductor, Quantum, Critical Minerals and Hydrogen missions, he called upon French enterprises to partner India for mutual growth and prosperity. He outlined the importance of active engagement in these sectors, reaffirming the commitment of both nations to fostering innovation, investment, and technology-driven partnerships. Full remarks of Prime Minister may be seen here.

5. CEOs from both sides who attended the meeting were:

Indian Side:

 Company Name(Sector)Name and Designation

1

Jubiliant Foodsworks/Jubiliant Life Sciences, Food and Beverage

Hari Bhartia, Co-Chairman and Director

2.

CII

Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General

3.

Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), Railways and Infrastructure

Umesh Chowdhary, Vice Chairman and Managing Director

4.

Bharat Light & Power Private Limited, (Renewable Energy)

Tejpreet Chopra, President & CEO

5.

P Mafatlal Group, Textiles and Industrial Products

Vishad Mafatlal, Chairman

6.

boat, Consumer Electronics (Wearables)

Aman Gupta, Co-Founder

7.

Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DICCI), Business Advocacy and Inclusion

Milind Kamble, Founder/Chairman

8.

Skyroot Aerospace, Aerospace & Space and Technology

Pawan Kumar Chandana,Co-Founder

9.

Agnikul, Aerospace & Space and Technology

Srinath Ravichandran, Co-Founder & CEO

10.

Tata Advanced Systems Ltd, Aerospace and Defense

Sukaran Singh, Managing Director

11

UPL Group, Agrochemical and Agribusiness

Vikram Shroff, Vice Chairman and Co-CEO

12.

Sula Vineyards, Food and Beverage

Rajeev Samant, CEO

13.

Dynamatic Technologies Ltd, Aerospace & Defence, and Engineering

Udayant Malhoutra, CEO & Managing Director

14.

Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE), Engineering and Consulting

Amit Sharma, Managing Director & CEO

15.

Nykaa, Cosmetics and consumer goods

Falguni Nayyar,CEO

French Side:

 Company Name(Sector)Name and Designation

1

Air Bus, Aerospace & Defence

Guillaume Faury, CEO

2.

Air Liquide, Chemicals, Health care, Engineering

François Jackow, CEO & a member of the Board of Directors of the Air Liquide Group

3.

BlaBlaCar, Transport, Services

Nicolas Brusson, CEO & Co-Founder

4

Capgemini Group, Information Technology, Engineering

Aiman Ezzat, CEO

5

Danone, Food & Beverages

Antoine de SAINT-AFFRIQUE, CEO

6

EDF, Energy, Power

Luc Rémont, Chairman &CEO

7

Egis Group, Architecture Construction Engineering

Laurent Germain,CEO

8.

Engie Group, Energy, Renewable Energy

Catherine MacGregor, CEO & Board Member of ENGIE.

9

L'Oréal, Cosmetics & Consumer Goods

Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO & Member of Board of Directors

10

Mistral AI, Artificial Intelligence

Arthur Mensch, CEO & Co-Founder

11

Naval Group, Defence, Shipbuilding, Engineering

Pierre Eric Pommellet, Chairman & CEO

12.

Pernod Ricard, Alcohol Beverages, FMCG

Alexandre Ricard, Chairman & CEO

13

Safran, Aerospace & Defence

Olivier Andriès, CEO

14.

Servier, Pharmaceuticals, Health care

Olivier Laureau, President & CEO

15

Total Energies SE, Energy

PATRICK Pouyanné, Chairman & CEO

16

Vicat, Construction

Guy Sidos, Chairman & CEO