Digital India, apart from facilitating people, is also bringing in transparency in government working and curbing corruption: PM
Government is committed to empowering MSMEs. By making access to credit easier for MSMEs, ease of doing business is being ensured: PM
Big effort is underway to provide modern amenities and promote industry in eastern India: PM Modi

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Varanasi today. He dedicated the campus of the International Rice Research Institute, at Varanasi, to the nation. He visited various laboratories of the Institute.

At the DeendayalHastkalaSankul, the Prime Minister visited the One District, One Product (ODOP) Exhibition. He launched a Comprehensive Pension Management Scheme. He unveiled plaques to mark the laying of Foundation Stones, or dedication of various projects in Varanasi.

Mentioning the various projects unveiled today, he said they all have a common theme: Ease of Living, and Ease of Doing Business. He described the Uttar Pradesh Government's "One District, One Product" scheme as an extension of "Make in India."

The Prime Minister said that in the State of Uttar Pradesh, the small and medium sector enterprises have been a part of traditions. In this context, he mentioned the carpet industry of Bhadohi, the sports goods industry of Meerut, and the silk industry of Varanasi, among others. He described Varanasi and Poorvanchal as a hub of handicrafts, and art.

The Prime Minister said 10 products of Varanasi and nearby regions, have received Geographical Indication tags. He said the One District, One Product scheme will convert these expressions of art, into profitable business, by ensuring good machines, training and marketing support. He said that he has been informed that loans worth Rs. 2000 crore are likely to be disbursed during this event.

He said the emphasis in this scheme is to provide a holistic solution for the makers of the products. He said that the DeendayalHastkalaSankul, is now fulfilling its ultimate objective.

The Prime Minister said that the Union Government has worked to make the lives of common people better, and to promote ease of doing business.

The Prime Minister said that SAMPANN - the System for Authority and Management of Pension launched today, will greatly facilitate pensioners of the telecom department, and help in timely disbursement of pension.

The Prime Minister said the Union Government is using technology to improve ease of living, and greater ease of access to citizen-centric services. He said India Post Payments Bank is being used to expand banking services through post offices.

He said a network of over 3 lakh Common Service Centres is helping to provide a range of services, digitally, to the people in rural areas. He also spoke of the huge increase in the number of internet connections in the country.

 

He said over one lakh Panchayats in the country are now connected via broadband. The Prime Minister said Digital India, apart from facilitating people, is also bringing in transparency in government working, and curbing corruption. In this context, he mentioned the Government e-Marketplace, or GeM. He said GeM will be of immense use for MSMEs.

The Prime Minister said the Union Government is committed to empowering MSMEs. By making access to credit easier for MSMEs, ease of doing business is also being ensured.

The Prime Minister said a big effort is underway to provide modern amenities and promote industry in eastern India, through LNG. One benefit of this is cooking gas which is now becoming available to thousands of homes in Varanasi, he added.

Referring to the International Rice Research Institute campus in Varanasi, he said this Centre is a result of our efforts to make agriculture more profitable, using technology.

The Prime Minister said that the transformation of Kashi is now becoming visible. He said the development projects unveiled today would further help in this regard. He reiterated that the Union Government is committed to cleaning the River Ganga. He said public support is facilitating the move towards this goal.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the upcoming PravasiBharatiya Divas, later this month in Varanasi, would be a success.

 

Click here to read PM's speech

Explore More
شری رام جنم بھومی مندر دھوجاروہن اتسو کے دوران وزیر اعظم کی تقریر کا متن

Popular Speeches

شری رام جنم بھومی مندر دھوجاروہن اتسو کے دوران وزیر اعظم کی تقریر کا متن
Regional languages take precedence in Lok Sabha addresses

Media Coverage

Regional languages take precedence in Lok Sabha addresses
NM on the go

Nm on the go

Always be the first to hear from the PM. Get the App Now!
...
Cabinet approves three new corridors as part of Delhi Metro’s Phase V (A) Project
December 24, 2025

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved three new corridors - 1. R.K Ashram Marg to Indraprastha (9.913 Kms), 2. Aerocity to IGD Airport T-1 (2.263 kms) 3. Tughlakabad to Kalindi Kunj (3.9 kms) as part of Delhi Metro’s Phase – V(A) project consisting of 16.076 kms which will further enhance connectivity within the national capital. Total project cost of Delhi Metro’s Phase – V(A) project is Rs.12014.91 crore, which will be sourced from Government of India, Government of Delhi, and international funding agencies.

The Central Vista corridor will provide connectivity to all the Kartavya Bhawans thereby providing door step connectivity to the office goers and visitors in this area. With this connectivity around 60,000 office goers and 2 lakh visitors will get benefitted on daily basis. These corridors will further reduce pollution and usage of fossil fuels enhancing ease of living.

Details:

The RK Ashram Marg – Indraprastha section will be an extension of the Botanical Garden-R.K. Ashram Marg corridor. It will provide Metro connectivity to the Central Vista area, which is currently under redevelopment. The Aerocity – IGD Airport Terminal 1 and Tughlakabad – Kalindi Kunj sections will be an extension of the Aerocity-Tughlakabad corridor and will boost connectivity of the airport with the southern parts of the national capital in areas such as Tughlakabad, Saket, Kalindi Kunj etc. These extensions will comprise of 13 stations. Out of these 10 stations will be underground and 03 stations will be elevated.

After completion, the corridor-1 namely R.K Ashram Marg to Indraprastha (9.913 Kms), will improve the connectivity of West, North and old Delhi with Central Delhi and the other two corridors namely Aerocity to IGD Airport T-1 (2.263 kms) and Tughlakabad to Kalindi Kunj (3.9 kms) corridors will connect south Delhi with the domestic Airport Terminal-1 via Saket, Chattarpur etc which will tremendously boost connectivity within National Capital.

These metro extensions of the Phase – V (A) project will expand the reach of Delhi Metro network in Central Delhi and Domestic Airport thereby further boosting the economy. These extensions of the Magenta Line and Golden Line will reduce congestion on the roads; thus, will help in reducing the pollution caused by motor vehicles.

The stations, which shall come up on the RK Ashram Marg - Indraprastha section are: R.K Ashram Marg, Shivaji Stadium, Central Secretariat, Kartavya Bhawan, India Gate, War Memorial - High Court, Baroda House, Bharat Mandapam, and Indraprastha.

The stations on the Tughlakabad – Kalindi Kunj section will be Sarita Vihar Depot, Madanpur Khadar, and Kalindi Kunj, while the Aerocity station will be connected further with the IGD T-1 station.

Construction of Phase-IV consisting of 111 km and 83 stations are underway, and as of today, about 80.43% of civil construction of Phase-IV (3 Priority) corridors has been completed. The Phase-IV (3 Priority) corridors are likely to be completed in stages by December 2026.

Today, the Delhi Metro caters to an average of 65 lakh passenger journeys per day. The maximum passenger journey recorded so far is 81.87 lakh on August 08, 2025. Delhi Metro has become the lifeline of the city by setting the epitome of excellence in the core parameters of MRTS, i.e. punctuality, reliability, and safety.

A total of 12 metro lines of about 395 km with 289 stations are being operated by DMRC in Delhi and NCR at present. Today, Delhi Metro has the largest Metro network in India and is also one of the largest Metros in the world.