Varanasi is all set for the Inauguration of the
KASHI VISHWANATH CORRIDOR 
by Shri Narendra Modi on December 13

Varanasi is all decked up for the inauguration of the PM’s dream project “Kashi Vishwanath Corridor”. The grand celebrations which is planned for the big day and that can be felt while crossing the roads of Varanasi. The inauguration of the first phase of the project will be done on December 13 by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The entire event will be aired live across the country. The city is filled with joy as the temple is ready to become 'Vishwanath Dham' as it was known years ago. This project will dignify the values of Kashi and will also create a possibility to boom the religious tourism in Varanasi.

•  The inauguration ceremony has been named as "Divya Kashi, Bhavya Kashi".
•  The city of Varanasi has been decked up before the inauguration of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor. The entire stretch of Godowlia to Maidagin has been painted in pink, to maintain a consistent look and bring out its rich heritage.
•  The inauguration ceremony will be on a grand celebration of Sanatan Dharam - Yagas, prayers, chanting and Shiv Barat will be some of the highlights. 
• The inauguration would see the presence of the main archakas of the 12 Jyotirlingas, with water from all major rivers of the country being brought in for the abhishek of the main deity Baba Vishwanath (Lord Shiva).
• The Kashi Vishwanath corridor project ensures easy pedestrian movement for pilgrims and comfortable holding zones.
•  The project connects the temple with the ghats, with a paved walkway. Now the devotees can abhishek the shivaling carrying the water from the river ganga.
•  Built over a sprawling area of 5,000 hectares, the corridor has decongested the temple complex. It will have a museum, a library, a pilgrim facilitation centre and a salvation house. 
•  The estimated cost of this entire project is close to Rs 800 crore.
• It also provides better crowd management and emergency operational procedures and better experiences around the religious rituals.
•  The work includes the construction of Temple Chowk, Varanasi city gallery, museum, multipurpose auditoriums, hall, devotee facilitation centre, public convenience, salvation home, Godowlia gate, Bhogshala, shelter for priests and sevadars, spiritual book space, and others.
• Hundreds of small temples have been made a part of the corridor.
• About 70% of the area of the project would be kept open for the green cover.
•  the part of the corridor are an over 7,000 square metre platform where 10,000 people can meditate, seven grand entrance gates, a cafeteria, a food court, a Vedic and spiritual library, a virtual gallery, a tourist centre, a multi-purpose hall and a security hall. 
•  At Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor, devotees will also see a statue of Maratha Queen Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar, who once reconstructed the temple. 

Panchkosi Yatra occupies an important place in rituals of Sanatan Dharma. The Jyotirlinga-shaped Parikrama route of Kashi is of special significance since ancient times. Under an initiative taken by the Yogi Adityanath Government, extensive renovation and beautification of the Panchkosi Parikrama in Varanasi is taking shape.

As per the plan, temples, ponds, tourist shelters and inns (dharamshalas) are being beautified to give the entire 70-km route a facelift of international standards.

There is also a proposal to organise various events and programmes spread over a year. The facelift and events will lead to the creation of new avenues of employment and business.

The General Secretary of the Kashi Vidvat Parishad, Prof Ram Narayan Trivedi, says that the devotees undertake a barefoot walk to traverse this 70-km Panchkosi Yatra. There are five halts on this route – Kandva, Bhimchandi, Rameshwar, Paancho Pandav and Kapildhara. The five-day yatra includes one-night stays every day.