Biz giants to maintain ghats: Will Varanasi gain from Modi's win?

Which place in India has gained the most from Narendra Modi’s victory? All those gunning for Gujarat as an answer stop right in your tracks please. Because if recent developments are anything to go by, it is Varanasi which is all set to get the largest share of Modi’s victory pie. According to a report in The Economic Times, corporate bodies, evidently in a scramble to be in the good books of the present government, have reportedly ‘adopted’ the ghats in Varanasi and will henceforth be responsible for its maintenance and upkeep. [caption id=“attachment_1497425” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Narendra Modi. PTI[/caption] Tourism Minister Sripad Yesso Naik told ET that they are in the process of roping in corporate houses to include Varanasi as a part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) duties. The ET report says, “According to officials, the ghats that will be included in the trial are Dashashwamedh, Rajendra Prasad, Shitla, Kedar, Man Mandir, Tripurbhairavi, Vijaynagaram, Rana, Chausatti, Munshi, Ahilyabai and Darbhanga. Dashashwamedh is among the most frequented ghats due to its proximity to the Kashi Vishwanath temple and for famed Ganga aarti every evening. Among those that have expressed interest, according to senior officials, are the Taj and Lalit hotel groups.” Albeit small, this might be the first step towards living up to the soaring hopes of the people of the Prime Minister’s new constituency. A report in the Indian Express states how people in Varanasi are yearning for what is considered impossible to get in several quarters of India - uninterrupted electricity and un-encroached roads. The IE report says: “Others have a detailed “action plan” ready for the PM. “Multi-level parking, widening of the Andhra Bridge, an outer ring road, a foot-bridge near the station, polythene-free zones, flyovers — all these are part of a ‘Mission Kashi’ I have prepared and sent to the PMO,” says Mayor Ram Gopal Mohle. Asked about reports about a “mini-PMO” in Varanasi, he calls it “wishful thinking” but adds, “there will certainly be a separate office for the MP.”