PM Narendra Modi lays foundation stone in Varanasi International Cricket Stadium

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Varanasi to lay foundation stone in Varanasi International Cricket Stadium.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to Varanasi, where he officiated the commencement of construction for a brand-new international cricket stadium.

Prime Minister's Office (PMO) issued a statement highlighting the importance of this stadium, which is situated in Varanasi and happens to be Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency. It is regarded as a substantial stride towards realising his goal of establishing state-of-the-art sports facilities that can compete globally.

To facilitate this ambitious project, Uttar Pradesh government has allocated a substantial budget of ₹121 crore for the acquisition of the necessary land. Furthermore, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has expressed its commitment to invest ₹330 crore for the construction of this stadium, a decision that has been officially confirmed by the authorities. The stadium is expected to have a seating capacity of up to 30,000 spectators.

Along with Narendra Modi other cricketing heroes graced the event.

The ceremony for laying the foundation stone of this stadium was graced by the presence of esteemed Indian cricketing legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, and Kapil Dev. Notably, the event also witnessed the participation of key figures from the BCCI, including president Roger Binny, vice-president Rajiv Shukla, and secretary Jay Shah.

This stadium in Varanasi signifies a significant milestone for Uttar Pradesh, as it marks the state's third international cricket facility, following the ones established in Kanpur and Lucknow.

The design of the Varanasi cricket stadium takes inspiration from Lord Shiva, incorporating elements like a crescent-shaped roof, floodlights resembling tridents, seating arrangements reminiscent of ghat steps, and metallic sheets on the facade shaped like Bilvipatra.