PM Modi To Gift Varanasi An International Cricket Stadium, Will Lay Foundation Stone Today | 5 Points

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the International Cricket Stadium at Ganjari village of Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh on Saturday afternoon.

Here are five points on what it is about:

1. The Uttar Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has spent Rs 121 crores to acquire the land for the construction of the International Cricket Stadium in Varanasi. Moreover, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to spend an additional Rs. 330 crores for the stadium's construction.
2. The thematic architecture of the stadium is inspired by Lord Shiva, with features such as crescent-shaped roof covers, trident-shaped floodlights, ghat steps-based seating, and Bilva Patra-shaped metallic sheets on the facade.
3. The stadium will be built in more than 30 acres of area and will hold a capacity of 30 thousand spectators. The stadium is located in the Rajatalab area near Ring Road and is projected for completion and ready for use by December 2025.
4. As per media reports, renowned cricketers Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Ravi Shastri, and several others are also expected to attend the ceremony. Key BCCI officials, including President Roger Binny, Vice President Rajiv Shukla, and Secretary Jay Shah, are also expected to attend.
5. PM Modi is also scheduled to inaugurate 16 Atal Awasiya Vidyalaya institutions constructed throughout the state. These schools, with a budget of Rs. 1115 crores, have been exclusively built for the education of children from laborer, construction worker, and orphan backgrounds, as a response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.