PM Modi Inaugurates, Lays Foundation Stone Of Various Development Projects In Kedarnath

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (5 November) laid foundation stones and dedicated to the nation various development projects in Kedarnath.

He inaugurated Shri Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi and unveiled the statue of Shri Adi Shankaracharya. He also reviewed and inspected the executed and ongoing infrastructure works.

Addressing the gathering at Kedarnath dham, PM Modi evoked the great spiritual rishi tradition of India and expressed his indescribable joy on coming to Kedarnath Dham.

Recalling his interaction with soldiers at Nowshera yesterday (4 November), PM Modi said that on Diwali, he took the feelings of 130 crore Indians to soldiers, while today on Govardhan Puja, he was in the land of soldiers and in the divine presence of Baba Kedar.

The Prime Minister said that new facilities like shelters, facilitation centres will ease the lives of priests and devotees and allow them to fully immerse in the divine experience of the pilgrimage.

Recalling the Kedarnath floods in 2013, PM Modi noted that damage caused by the floods years ago was unimaginable. He said “people who used to come here used to think that will our Kedar Dham stand up again? But my inner voice was saying that it will stand with more pride than ever before," a PMO release said.

He said due to the grace of Lord Kedar and inspiration of Adi Shankaracharya and his experience of managing the aftermath of the Bhuj Earthquake, he could be of help in those difficult times. He struck a personal note and said that it is a blessing that he could serve the place which nurtured him earlier in his life. He thanked all the workers, priests, Rawal families of the priests, officials and the Chief Minister for relentlessly pursuing the development works at the Dham.

He said that “this combination of modernity with the eternal on this ancient land, these development works are the result of the natural grace of Lord Shankar.”

Talking about Adi Shankaracharya, Modi said that the life of the Adi Guru was as extraordinary as it was devoted to the welfare of the common man, he said.

PM Modi said that there was a time when spirituality and religion started getting linked with stereotypes and outdated practices. Whereas, Indian philosophy talks about human welfare and looks at life in a holistic way. Adi Shankaracharya did the work of making the society aware of this truth, he said.

PM Modi emphasised that today, our cultural heritage, centres of faith are being viewed with deserved and valid pride, as they should be viewed.

“A grand temple of Lord Shri Ram is coming up in Ayodhya. Ayodhya is getting its glory back. Just two days ago, the whole world saw the grand celebration of Deepotsav in Ayodhya. Today we can imagine how the ancient cultural form of India must have been”, PM Modi said.

He said that today’s India is confident about its heritage. “Today, India sets tough goals and deadlines for itself. Today, it is not acceptable for India to be timid about deadlines and goals”, PM Modi said.

During the event, PM Modi also inaugurated the samadhi of Adi Shankaracharya, which was reconstructed after the destruction in the 2013 floods. The entire reconstruction work has been undertaken under the guidance of the PM Modi, who has constantly reviewed and monitored the progress of the project.

Today also, PM Modi reviewed and inspected the executed and ongoing works along the Saraswati Aasthapath.

Key infrastructure projects which have been completed include Saraswati Retaining Wall Aasthapath and Ghats, Mandakini Retaining Wall Aasthapath, Tirth Purohit Houses and Garud Chatti bridge on river Mandakini.

The projects have been completed at a cost of over Rs 130 crore.

PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for multiple projects worth over Rs 180 crore, including the Redevelopment of Sangam Ghat, First Aid and Tourist Facilitation Centre, Admin Office and Hospital, two Guest Houses, Police Station, Command & Control Centre, Mandakini Aasthapath Queue Management and Rainshelter and Saraswati Civic Amenity Building.