Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 5 November, unveiled the statue of Adi Shankara at Kedarnath in Uttarakhand. The prime minister also inaugurated developmental projects worth Rs 130 crore during the visit.
"You all are witness to the inauguration of Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi here today. His devotees are present here in spirit. All maths and 'jyotirlingas' in the country are connected with us today," PM Modi was quoted as saying.
"After 2013 destruction, people used to think if Kedarnath could be redeveloped. But a voice within me always told me that Kedarnath will be redeveloped again," he added.
"The Samadhi has been reconstructed after the destruction in the 2013 floods. The entire reconstruction work has been undertaken under the guidance of the Prime Minister, who has constantly reviewed and monitored the progress of the project," the Union Ministry of Culture said in a press release.
The PM, who had reached Kedarnath earlier during the day, also offered his prayers at the shrine.
"A grand Ram Temple is being constructed in Ayodhya. Recently, Deepotsav was celebrated there. Work on Kashi Vishwanath corridor project in Varanasi is also progressing rapidly.... Now, the country aims high and also sets a time limit to achieve these aims," the prime minister said at Kedarnath, as per news agency ANI.
"A number of infrastructure works are planned for Uttarakhand including road connectivity to Char Dhams and a ropeway near Hemkund Sahib to facilitate devotees. This decade belongs to Uttarakhand. In the next 10 years, the state will receive more tourists than it did in the last 100 years," he added.
PM Modi Inaugurates Developmental Projects Worth Rs 130 Crore
Modi, during his visit to Kedarnath, also inaugurated infrastructure projects worth Rs 130 crore in Uttarakhand on Friday, ahead of the upcoming 2022 Uttarakhand Assembly elections.
The redevelopment projects that have been inaugurated include Saraswati Retaining Wall Aasthapath and Ghats, Mandakini Retaining Wall Aasthapath, Tirth Purohit Houses, and Garud Chatti bridge on river Mandakini.
The PM will also lay the foundation stone for multiple projects worth over Rs 180 crore, including the redevelopment of Sangam Ghat, first aid and tourist facilitation centre, admin office and hospital, two guest houses, police station, command and control centre, Mandakini Aasthapath queue management and rain shelter, and Saraswati civic amenity building.
Under PM's leadership, development projects worth crores of rupees have been inaugurated in the state in last 5 years. Work is underway on railway project b/w Rishikesh-Karanprayag. Work is in progress on Char Dham all-weather road under govt's Bharat Mala project: Uttarakhand CM
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