PM Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of ₹451-crore Lord Shiva-themed cricket stadium in Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of a Lord Shiva-themed cricket stadium in Varanasi on Saturday, September 23. The stadium, which will be built on Rs 121 crore land, is estimated to cost around Rs 330 crore. 

It will have a seating capacity of nearly 30,000 people and will feature unique design elements such as crescent-shaped roof covers, floodlights shaped like a trident, and structures resembling bel leaves and a damru. 

The design of the stadium aims to capture the essence of Kashi, with the spectators' gallery resembling the steps of the ghats of Varanasi. The stadium is scheduled to be completed by December 2025. 

बाबा श्री विश्वनाथ जी की पावन नगरी काशी की अतुल्य विकास यात्रा में कल एक और स्वर्णिम अध्याय जुड़ने जा रहा है।

आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी कल वाराणसी में लगभग ₹451 करोड़ लागत के 'अंतरराष्ट्रीय क्रिकेट स्टेडियम' की आधारशिला रखेंगे।

साथ ही, काशी सांसद सांस्कृतिक…

— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) September 22, 2023

In addition to laying the foundation stone, PM Modi also addressed a rally of women supporters in Varanasi and spoke about the women's reservation bill passed by Parliament. The event was attended by BCCI President Roger Binny, Vice President Rajiv Shukla, and Secretary Jay Shah. This is going to be Uttar Pradesh's third international cricket stadium after Kanpur and Lucknow.

PM Modi arrived in Varanasi by air and laid the foundation stone for the International Cricket Stadium at around 1:30 pm, as per reports. 

Earlier, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, who was also present, took to social media to describe the event as a "golden chapter in the history of Kashi.

Additionally, As per CM’s tweet, Kashi MP will inaugurate 16 newly constructed Atal Residential Schools during the closing and prize distribution ceremony of the Cultural Mahotsav 2023, costing approximately ₹1,115 crore.