Modi’s Varanasi Bet: Development Meets Devotion
When Narendra Modi chose Varanasi as his constituency in 2014, some saw it as a symbolic move. A way to connect with India’s spiritual core. Nearly a decade later, it looks more like a strategic masterstroke—both for the BJP and for Uttar Pradesh’s development trajectory.
Things changed quickly. Varanasi became a kind of live canvas for Modi’s ideas: grow the economy, boost tourism, and bring modern infrastructure to one of India’s oldest cities. The results? Visible. And, frankly, impressive.
Step 1: Bringing the Basics Up to Speed
Roads, Railways and Riverfronts
When Modi first took office in 2014, Uttar Pradesh lagged in infrastructure. Many streets in Varanasi were crumbling, traffic was a mess, and basic services like sanitation were inconsistent. But soon, change rolled in.
- Massive improvement in road connectivity—especially the Varanasi Ring Road and widening of key highways.
- Upgrading of Varanasi Junction railway station with free Wi-Fi, new lounges, and solar panels.
- The renovation of the Ganga riverfront and construction of ghats under the Namami Gange project.
An interesting feature was also the use of the Ganga as an inland waterway. A cargo terminal at Varanasi marked the launch of India’s first multi-modal terminal on NW-1.
Budgets That Backed the Vision
The monetary muscle behind these changes? Multi-layered funding. You’ll find allocations under:
- Namami Gange Program: ₹22,500 crore allocated nationally, with focused spending in Varanasi.
- Smart Cities Mission: ₹14,124 crore for UP, much of which benefitted cities like Varanasi, Kanpur, Lucknow.
- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban: Over ₹10,000 crore for UP to build affordable housing.
- Union Budget 2023–24: New allocations for expressways, including progress on the Purvanchal Expressway and Bundelkhand Expressway.
According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, “Uttar Pradesh received one of the highest allocations for national highway development in the last five years.”
The Politics Behind the Progress
Why Varanasi Wasn’t Just About Varanasi
This wasn’t only about temples and traffic lights. By investing in Varanasi, the BJP carved out a deeper footprint in eastern UP—traditionally tougher terrain for them. It made the abstract ideas of growth and governance feel real in small towns and villages.
“When people saw cranes and bulldozers working round the clock in Varanasi, it gave them faith,” said party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi back in 2019.
I think this transformation had ripple effects in areas like Bhadohi, Chandauli, even Azamgarh. Political loyalty started to shift slowly, but surely. Some may argue, it wasn’t just development—it was about giving dignity to places that had long felt forgotten.
The Influence Through Temples
Faith played a role too—that’s hard to deny. The Kashi Vishwanath Corridor is perhaps Modi’s most ambitious cultural-religious restoration yet. The project cleared decades of encroachments and gave pilgrims better access to the temple and Ganga river.
It also gave BJP strong visibility during key festivals and created a cultural pivot at the heart of India’s politics. It’s subtle but strategic. You might have seen the photos from the site’s opening—Modi, barefoot, offering prayers. The imagery mattered as much as the concrete.
Key Projects That Changed the Game
- Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor – ₹339 crore project linking the temple to ghats.
- Deendayal Hastkala Sankul – A trade facilitation center boosting local handlooms like Banarasi silk.
- Banaras Hindu University upgrades – Funding for advanced labs, hostels, and research facilities.
- Purvanchal Expressway – A lifeline cutting down travel time between Lucknow and Ghazipur.
Projects weren’t limited to his own constituency. Yogi Adityanath, with Modi’s roadmap, pushed similar projects across UP—airports in Jewar and Ayodhya, defense corridors in Jhansi.
Mistakes to Avoid When Interpreting the Story
Now, you might think this is all just PR-heavy stuff. Shiny flyovers, clean ghats, and temple decorations. But there’s a deeper story hiding beneath.
- Don’t ignore the scale—many of these projects involved thousands of workers and complex logistics.
- Don’t dismiss the religious investment as emotional bait—it also helped revive tourism and put small artisans back in business.
- Don’t overlook local challenges—land acquisition, evictions, protests did happen. But they were managed quietly, sometimes stiffly.
Progress? Yes. But not without its shadows.
Why It Matters
The changes in UP since Modi’s Varanasi pivot are real, even if uneven. There’s better connectivity, more jobs for skilled workers, and new hubs for tourism. But perhaps more than that—it changed how people saw the state itself. From backward to visible. From passive to active.
For many locals, the pride is new. So is the hope. One local shopkeeper near Dashashwamedh Ghat told India Today in 2022: “We’re not just watching development—we’re part of it for once.” That says a lot.
Looking Ahead
The plan is still unfolding. With elections on the horizon and new mega-projects in progress (like the Ganga Expressway), UP still has a long way to go. Many districts remain poor. Many towns still lack hospitals and universities.
But as far as messaging goes, Varanasi has set a template. A mix of faith, function, and forward-looking plans. People noticed. And that shift in perception? That matters just as much as the roads and budgets.
Final Thoughts
So, was it politics wrapped in progress? Or progress with political seasoning? Maybe a little of both. Either way, PM Modi’s long bet on Uttar Pradesh development—anchored in Varanasi—has reshaped the state’s narrative. For now, it’s one of his defining projects. Whether it holds in the next decade, we’ll just have to wait and see.
