logo
PM Modi to visit Gaya on Aug 22, to announce several projects

PM Modi to visit Gaya on Aug 22, to announce several projects

Time of India5 hours ago
Gaya: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Gaya on Aug 22. He will announce several development projects, including the construction of a corridor connecting the Vishnupad and Mahabodhi Temples, on the pattern of Kashi Vishwanath corridor, said deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary on Wednesday.
According to Chaudhary, these projects have already been allocated funds in the 2024 budget. The govt has sanctioned high-value schemes to improve rail and road connectivity, parking facilities, and public utilities, aligning with Gaya's status as a global pilgrimage and tourist destination.
As part of the development package, the Gaya railway station will undergo significant expansion and modernization. Additionally, under the Prime Minister's leadership, museums, archaeological sites, and key tourist attractions are being developed to preserve and promote Buddhist heritage.
Several initiatives under the Buddha Circuit are being implemented through public-private partnerships.
To boost agricultural growth and environmental sustainability, new schemes have been introduced, besides Rs300 crore has been sanctioned for the expansion of Gaya airport, aimed at improving air connectivity and enhancing passenger amenities.
Preparations for the PM's visit are underway, with deputy CM instructing Gaya district magistrate Shashank Shubhankar and SSP Anand Kumar to inspect the venues for the PM's address.
Unlike previous events held at Gandhi Maidan, alternative locations are being considered. Three venues have been shortlisted: the abandoned airstrip near South Bihar Central University, Magadh University Campus in Bodh Gaya, and Radhaswami Satsang Vyas near GT Road under Amas Police Station. The latter has already been inspected and is noted for its proximity to Aurangabad district.
Besides the PM, leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi will also be visiting Gaya soon. According to district Congress president Santosh Kushwaha, though the exact date of Rahul's visit has not been finalised, the LoP is most likely to visit Gaya on Aug 16 or 17. Preparations are underway for his visit, said Kushwaha.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump's Tariffs, Xi's Handshake And Putin's Pipeline – What PM Modi Hopes To Gain At SCO Summit In China
Trump's Tariffs, Xi's Handshake And Putin's Pipeline – What PM Modi Hopes To Gain At SCO Summit In China

India.com

time22 minutes ago

  • India.com

Trump's Tariffs, Xi's Handshake And Putin's Pipeline – What PM Modi Hopes To Gain At SCO Summit In China

New Delhi: With Washington's tariff hammer falling hard and regional diplomacy entering a turbulent stretch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is heading to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. It will mark his first visit to the country since the deadly 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Scheduled for August 31 to September 1 in the northern port city of Tianjin, the visit comes at a delicate moment. Not only is India navigating fallout from stiff new trade duties imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, but it is also facing scrutiny over its oil imports from Russia. Modi's presence at the SCO summit is being seen by many as an attempt to recalibrate India's strategic posture, especially as tensions with the West rise and ties with Beijing show signs of cautious repair. This is the prime minister's first trip to China in five years. While he last set foot on Chinese soil in 2019, he did meet President Xi Jinping briefly during the BRICS summit held in Kazan in October 2024. That interaction helped ease the freeze in high-level dialogue and set the stage for ongoing border talks. It also helped the reopening of the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra, a symbolic step toward thawing relations. But trust remains fragile. India's decision to attend the SCO summit also comes just weeks after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refused to sign a joint statement at a key SCO defence meet. The reason was omission of any mention of the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which left 26 dead, in the statement. Instead, the final document inserted a reference to Balochistan that was widely seen as a move pushed by Pakistan to paint India as a regional destabiliser. The omission did not go unnoticed in New Delhi. According to Indian officials, the document appeared tilted, with no acknowledgment of the human cost of the Pahalgam killings. However, in a surprise move the following month, China issued a strongly worded statement condemning the attack. It came after the United States officially designated The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot, as a foreign terrorist organisation. Beijing's reaction reflected a shift in tone, even if not in alignment. 'China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and strongly condemns the terrorist attack that occurred on April 22... China calls on regional countries to enhance counterterrorism cooperation and jointly maintain regional security and stability,' said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian in a statement that caught diplomatic watchers off guard. Against this backdrop, PM Modi's China visit could carry more weight than just optics. Talks at the SCO will include 10 member countries: India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The agenda includes counterterrorism, regional security and trade. With the United States hiking tariff pressure, there is growing speculation that New Delhi may be rebalancing (less reliant on the West and more open to multilateral blocs with Beijing and Moscow in the room). There is also the likelihood of side meetings between Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, adding geopolitical heft to the summit. Founded in 2001, the SCO has evolved from a regional security bloc to a broader platform for economic and strategic cooperation. But this year's gathering comes with unusual undertones: a terror attack still unresolved, trade wars intensifying and major powers reshuffling their alliances. For India, more than being a summit, the SCO is a test of how far it can stretch its strategic space between a China that shares a tense border, a Russia that supplies its oil and a United States that is tightening the screws on both.

Min mandates use of Made in India goods in 3 depts
Min mandates use of Made in India goods in 3 depts

Time of India

time36 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Min mandates use of Made in India goods in 3 depts

1 2 Jaipur: Cabinet minister Madan Dilawar announced Wednesday that only Made in India products must be used in education, Panchayati Raj, and Sanskrit education departments. He said only products not available in the country and requiring imports can be used after approval from the minister. "This initiative has been started to realise the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make in India campaign . This will increase the use of goods manufactured in India, and it will also have a positive impact on our economy. Many foreign countries earn profit from us by selling their products in India, but they use that money to help our enemy country," said Dilawar. Speaking to TOI, he added that if any foreign product is used in these departments, personal recovery will be done from the officer concerned. "If any officer or employee of these departments purchases foreign goods, then not only will strict action be taken against them, but the payment of the purchased goods will also be recovered from them," said Dilawar. He also appealed to women ahead of Rakshabandhan to purchase only indigenous products for the festival. "If you go to the market to buy Rakhi, buy only locally made Rakhi made by our Indian artisans. Boycott foreign Rakhis, especially those made in China, do not buy them. With this, you will not only serve the country but also provide employment to fellow citizens. Adopt Swadeshi and make the country strong," he said. Reacting to the announcement, state Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra said that the decision was inappropriate and irrational decision.

Kanwar Yatra turns tragic: Four pilgrims die in stampede amid uncontrolled influx of devotees
Kanwar Yatra turns tragic: Four pilgrims die in stampede amid uncontrolled influx of devotees

New Indian Express

timean hour ago

  • New Indian Express

Kanwar Yatra turns tragic: Four pilgrims die in stampede amid uncontrolled influx of devotees

BHOPAL: At least four devotees from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Chhattisgarh have died in the past two days during the massive Kanwar Yatra at Kubereshwar Dham in Madhya Pradesh's Sehore district, as authorities struggled to manage the overwhelming influx of pilgrims. The victims include Jaswanti Ben (56) from Rajkot, Gujarat, and Sangita Gupta from Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, who reportedly died in a stampede on Tuesday, just hours before the main procession led by religious preacher Pradip Mishra began at midnight. The same day, two more devotees—Chatur Singh (50) from Gujarat and Ishwar Singh (65) from Rohtak, Haryana, collapsed and died, likely due to heart complications after being trapped in suffocating crowds amid humid weather. The fatalities occurred as over 2.5 lakh devotees from across India descended upon the religious site, overwhelming infrastructure and leading to a complete breakdown of basic amenities, including drinking water, food, and sanitation. Traffic chaos compounded the crisis, with the Indore-Bhopal Highway gridlocked since Tuesday night, leaving vehicles stranded for hours. Despite official restrictions on heavy vehicles and alternate routes, enforcement was either poorly executed or ignored entirely. Madhya Pradesh cabinet minister Govind Rajput acknowledged the lack of preparedness, stating, 'Such a massive crowd wasn't expected, which has actually led the system to fall short. I urge the administration to take control and ensure that such a tragedy doesn't repeat.' Meanwhile, former MP minister and Congress MLA Rajendra Singh questioned accountability, asking, 'Who will take the responsibility for the deaths which happened at the Kubereshwar Dham in the last two days? Will the authorities or those associated with the religious event, who is to be held responsible for it?' The incident has raised serious concerns over crowd management at large religious gatherings, with calls for stricter safety measures to prevent further tragedies.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store