VARANASI, Aug. 2 -- NITI Aayog vice-chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri chaired a high-level review meeting in Varanasi on Saturday, directing officials to intensify efforts toward achieving the 2030 development goals.

At the outset, Purna Borah, vice-chairman of the Varanasi development authority, presented a vision document for the Kashi-Vindhya region, which is being developed as a major economic hub. The region, comprising seven districts, supports a population of 23 million and currently contributes $24 billion (or 7.7%) to the state's GDP. The proposed plan aims to transform the area into a $600 billion economic zone under the 'Viksit Bharat 2047' initiative, with goals to generate up to 700,000 new jobs and attract significant investment ...