PM lays foundation stone of cricket stadium in Varanasi
| Date :24-Sep-2023 |
VARANASI (UP),
PRIME Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of an international cricket stadium in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on Saturday. Former India cricketers, including Sachin Tendulkar and Ravi Shastri, BCCI President Roger Binny, its vice-president Rajiv Shukla and secretary Jay Shah were present on the occasion. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also attended the function. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah on Saturday presented Prime Minister Narendra Modi with an Indian cricket team jersey with “NAMO” inscribed on it. Among other cricketing stalwarts attending the event were Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, and former India international and head coach Ravi Shastri. Shah and Binny also presented a specially signed bat to PM Modi. Underscoring the Centre’s push to help aspiring sportspersons shine on the global stage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said his Government was not only supporting athletes at every level but also changing the general outlook towards sports in the country.
Addressing a sizeable gathering after laying the foundation stone for a new international cricket stadium at Varanasi, PM Modi said the sheer scale of success of Indian athletes at global events was an affirmation of the changing national outlook when it comes to sports. He added that India created history in the World University Games this year, winning more medals this edition than they did in all previous editions taken together. “The continuing success stories that we are scripting in the world of sports today is a testament to the changing outlook towards it. Our Government is helping sportspersons at every level, TOPS is one such scheme of the Government,” PM Modi said. “I feel happy and privileged to welcome PM Narendra Modi to the laying of the foundation stone for the new cricket stadium in Varanasi. This is the first time that he is visiting the State to lay the foundation stone for a cricket stadium. I welcome him on behalf of every cricket enthusiast in the State,” CM Adityanath said at the ceremony.
The Uttar Pradesh Government said that it has spent Rs 121 crore to acquire the land for the stadium while the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will spend Rs 330 crore on its construction. To be built near the Ring Road in Rajatalab area, the stadium is likely to be ready by December 2025. The spectators’ gallery of the stadium would resemble the steps of the ghats of Varanasi. This will be Uttar Pradesh’s third international cricket stadium after Kanpur and Lucknow. PM Modi inaugurates 16 residential schools for needy children in UP:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated 16 residential schools for needy children in Uttar Pradesh, built at a cost of about Rs 1,115 crore. These schools - Atal Awasiya Vidyalayas - have been opened to provide quality education to children of labourers and construction workers and those orphaned in the COVID-19 pandemic.