Varanasi, Dec 12: Varanasi is all set for the inauguration of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 13. The entire event will be aired live across the country. Shrikant Mishra, Priest at Kashi Vishwanath temple said, “The city is filled with enthusiasm as the temple is ready to become ‘Vishwanath Dham‘ after years.”
The government has said the ambitious project will complement the Purvanchal Development Corridor and “will be a rich tribute to the cultural & historical patrimony of Kashi.” Known to be PM Modi’s dream project, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor has been built over a sprawling area of 5,000 hectares and has decongested the temple complex earlier surrounded by buildings on three sides.
“The temple will be inaugurated on December 13 at an auspicious time,” Nagendra Pandey, a priest at Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
Uttar Pradesh tourism minister Neelkanth Tiwari said the project has been built with ₹399 crores. “It is not only taking forward the dignity of Kashi but also creating a possibility of the boom in the religious tourism of Varanasi. The tourism sector is expected to grow insignificantly,” Tiwari said.
Since PM Modi laid the foundation of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in March 2019, more than 300 buildings have been bought and demolished to create the space for the project.
The project ensures easy pedestrian movement for pilgrims and comfortable holding zones, as well as crowd management and emergency operational procedures and better experiences around the religious rituals.
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“The work includes the construction of Temple Chowk, Varanasi city gallery, museum, multipurpose auditoriums, hall, devotee facilitation centre, public convenience, salvation home, Godowlia gate, Bhogshala, shelter for priests and sevadars, spiritual book space, and others,” Patel said.
Among the part of the corridor are an over 7,000 square metre platform where 10,000 people can meditate, seven grand entrance gates, a cafeteria, a food court, a Vedic and spiritual library, a virtual gallery, a tourist centre, a multi-purpose hall and a security hall. A special sky beam light system was also being installed along the corridor.
Devotees can also see a statue of Maratha queen Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar, who once reconstructed the temple, at Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor.
Data shows more than seven million devotees and tourists visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple every year and over 10,000 devotees, mostly from Varanasi and adjoining areas, come every day.
