PM Narendra Modi to Visit Varanasi Today, Launch Rs 574-Crore Power Project

This will be the ninth edition of the Prime Minister's radio programme in which he shares his thoughts with the people on various issues.

The PM's radio address comes amid vociferous attacks by the Opposition questioning his silence on a raging controversy involving External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje over helping tainted cricket boss Lalit Modi with travel documents and his immigration application.

First on the PM's itinerary today will be a visit to Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand where he will lay the foundation stone of an agriculture research centre.

Mr Modi will then head to Varanasi in the afternoon where he will inaugurate a trauma centre, lay the foundation stone for various development projects and is also scheduled to address a public meeting.

The PM will be received by Governor Ram Naik and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav at the Babatpur airport from where he will travel to the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) to inaugurate the newly built trauma centre.

The Prime Minister will then launch the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), a flagship project of his government which aims at strengthening the transmission and distribution network in the temple town.

He will also inaugurate a ring road project for Varanasi.

The PM will wrap up his visit with a public meeting, "Vikas Sabha" where the BJP is expecting the participation of around 40,000 people.

This is Mr Modi's third visit to his constituency after taking charge as Prime Minister in May last year.

He had attended the aarti on the banks of the river Ganga and offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanth temple on May 17 last year after the BJP's historic win in the general election. Later in December, he again visited Varanasi during which he visited his adopted village, Jayapur.