PM Modi to inaugurate widened 6-lane highway, attend Dev Deepawali in Varanasi on Monday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on Monday to inaugurate a six-lane stretch of the national highway between the city and Prayagraj, and will also attend Dev Deepawali there.

During the tour, the Prime Minister will attend Dev Deepawali, undertake a site visit of Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor Project and will also visit the Sarnath Archaeological Site.

The 73 km stretch of the newly widened and six laned NH19, made with a total outlay of Rs 2,447 crore, is expected to reduce the travel time between Prayagraj and Varanasi by one hour, PMO statement said.

Dev Deepawali, which has become a "world-famous festival" of light and fervour in Varanasi, is celebrated on every Poornima of the Kartik month, added PMO.

The festival will be started by the Prime Minister by lighting a lamp on the Raj Ghat of Varanasi, which will be followed by lighting of 11 lakh diyas or lamps on both sides of River Ganges.