PM Modi lays Foundation Stone of Varanasi International Cricket Stadium

Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of an international cricket stadium in Varanasi on Saturday afternoon.

BCCI President Roger Binny, its Vice President Rajiv Shukla and Secretary Jay Shah attended the event. Legendary Indian cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, and Dilip Vengsarkar were also present.

The Prime Minister also addressed a rally of women supporters and spoke about the women’s reservation bill passed by Parliament.

This proposed stadium will be Uttar Pradesh’s third international cricket stadium after Kanpur and Lucknow. Varanasi’s international cricket stadium will be built at a cost of around Rs 330 crore on a land patch worth Rs 121 crore.

The stadium will have the capacity to accommodate nearly 30,000 spectators.

It will be in the shape of a crescent. Its floodlights will be shaped like a trident. It will have patterns resembling bel leaves, and will also have a damru shaped structure. Its design will depict the “essence of Kashi”, the press statement read.

The spectators’ gallery of the stadium will resemble the steps of the ghats of Varanasi.

It is likely to be ready by December 2025.