Union home minister Amit Shah in Mirzapur today for Vindhya corridor, ropeway

VARANASI: Union home minister Amit Shah will lay the foundation stone of Rs 150 crores Vindhyachal Corridor Project (VCP) in Mirzapur on Sunday afternoon. Shah, who will also inaugurate a Rs 16 crores ropeway, will be accompanied by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Later, they are also likely to offer prayers at Kashi Vishwanath Temple and take stock of the KV Dham (Corridor) project in Varanasi before leaving for New Delhi.
Divisional commissioner Mirzapur Yogeshwar Ram Mishra on Saturday said, “Choppers of home minister and CM will land at Devri airport around 2.40 pm. From the helipad, they will go to Vindhyachal temple. After offering prayers at the temple, they will perform the rituals of ‘bhumipujan’. After it, they will reach the Government Inter College ground to address a public meeting following inauguration of the ropeway for Vindhya circle and laying of foundation stone of other projects.”
The commissioner along with district magistrate Mirzapur Pravin Kumar Lakshkar, SP Ajay Kumar and other officials took stock of the helipad, Vindyachal, GIC and also the routes of VIP movement to check the preparations and also briefed the police and paramilitary forces.
According to Mishra, the construction part of Rs 150 crores Vindhyachal Corridor Project will be started immediately after the ‘bhumipujan’, as removal of identified 92 buildings, which were surrounding the Vindhyachal temple, have already been removed after their purchase.
The project will result in creation of space for 50-ft-wide Parikrama (circumambulation) route while visitors will get a full view of the holy shrine known as one of Shaktipeeths. The roads leading to the temple are also being widened as a part of the project. Improvement of basic infrastructure and introducing modern facilities, including parking zones, guest houses, shopping complexes, retiring rooms for pilgrims, are also proposed.
Shah and Yogi will also inaugurate the first ropeway of east UP for thousands of pilgrims and picnickers who flock Ashtabhuja and Kali Khoh hills of holy Trikon (triangle) of Vindhyachal.
The ropeway, which will be first in east UP, will be started in two phases as the only one ropeway line connecting Kali Khoh and Ashtabhuja project is in finishing state. The second line from Ashtabhuja to the terminal (parking site) is still under construction and expected to be completed by December end.
UP tourism joint director (Varanasi) Avinash Mishra said, “Under Rs 16 crores ropeway project, a 199-mt first line ropeway linking Kali Khoh and Ashtabhuja and other the 102-mt second line, which will take visitors from Ashtabhuja hill to terminal (parking point), has been created. Being initiated on a public private partnership (PPP) model, this project will enable visitors to enjoy the beauty of the forest area between two hills from the height of over 260 mt.”
As Shah and Yogi are also likely to stay in Varanasi and visit KV Dham (Corridor) project area after returning from Mirzapur, the officials intensified preparations in Varanasi. Divisional commissioner Varanasi Deepak Agrawal said that the home minister and CM are expected to visit KV Temple to offer prayers and inspect the progress of KV Dham project.
In view of the VVIP visit, commissioner of police A Satish Ganesh along with his subordinates inspected Sampurnanand Sanskrit University ground where a helipad is being constructed for the landing of their choppers. He also inspected the route of their movement in the city.