Gangtok/Varanasi, April 29 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated and laid foundation stone for projects worth over Rs.10,000 crore in Sikkim and Varanasi during his visit to the north-eastern state and his parliamentary constituency. In Sikkim, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth over Rs.4,000 crore during the closing ceremony of Sikkim's 50th Year of Statehood celebrations held at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok. Later, on a visit to Varanasi, Modi inaugurated 48 completed projects built at a cost of over Rs.1,050 crore and laid the foundation stone of 112 others worth around Rs.5,300 crore in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi. According to a press release issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the projects in Sikkim span a wide range of sectors, including infrastructure, connectivity, healthcare, education, power, urban development, environment, tourism and agriculture, with the aim of accelerating holistic and inclusive development. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for a 100-bed Ayurveda Hospital at Yangang in Namchi district. He also inaugurated a 30-bed Integrated Sowa Rigpa Hospital at NIT Deorali. He also inaugurated the Permanent campus of Sikkim University at Yangang, the Administrative Block of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University of Excellence at Chakung, the Helen Lepcha Medical College at Socheygang in Gangtok district, and the Dentam Professional College at Dentam in Gyalshing district. Prime Minister Modi was on a two-day visit to the hill state to mark the Golden Jubilee year of Sikkim's statehood. Modi also inaugurated model residential schools at Hee Gyathang, a new Model Degree College at Mangshila in Mangan district, and a monastic hostel-cum-classroom at Boomtar Gumpa in Namchi district. He also launched the implementation of IT-enabled educational infrastructure projects across 160 schools in Sikkim. To improve connectivity further in Sikkim, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of two hinged double-lane steel arch bridges over the River Teesta at Sirwani and Lower Samdong, connecting Namchi and Gangtok districts. As per the release, Modi inaugurated the improvement, upgradation and revamping of the Transmission and Distribution (T&D) network in Gangtok, strengthening reliable power supply in the region. In the area of urban development and administrative infrastructure, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Jan Seva Sachivalaya (Mini Secretariat) at Lumsey and the Civil Service Officers Institute in Gangtok. He also laid the foundation stone for sewerage system rehabilitation at Singtam town under river pollution abatement initiatives. The Prime Minister inaugurated the Sikkim IFFCO Processing Plant, which is expected to provide a significant boost to agro-processing and strengthen farmer livelihoods and value chains in the State. PM Modi inaugurated indoor cricket facilities at Mining, Rangpo in Pakyong district to promote youth engagement and sports development. PM Modi arrived in Varanasi on Tuesday evening on a two-day visit to Uttar Pradesh. Among the 112 projects whose foundation stones were laid were 13 sewage and water supply schemes under AMRUT 2.0, a 500-bed multi-superspecialty hospital at Shri Shiv Prasad Gupta Divisional District Hospital and the construction of market complexes and office spaces at Bhojuveer and Sigra, according to an official statement. The other projects are renovation and rejuvenation of ponds, redevelopment of a 198-bed hospital, construction of a 100-bed critical care block and development of tourism facilities at key ghats including Assi Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat, and Namo Ghat. The prime minister laid the foundation stone for the Integrated Divisional Office, Nagar Nigam office building, and a Government Child Shelter Home and Juvenile Justice Board in Ramnagar, Varanasi. He also transferred over Rs 105 crore as bonus to milk suppliers of Uttar Pradesh associated with Banas Dairy, the statement said. Modi laid the foundation stone of the Varanasi Junction-Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction third and fourth railway line project, including the construction of a rail-cum-road bridge over the Ganga. Addressing the Mahila Sammelan here on Tuesday, PM Modi said the government is committed to ensuring women's participation in the country's policy-making. "The mission to make India developed continues unabated. And when I speak of a developed India, its strongest pillar is India's 'Nari shakti' (women power)," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister said the BJP governments have focused on the safety of women. "You have seen the situation change before your eyes here in Uttar Pradesh. Until a few years ago, when the Samajwadi Party was in power here, it was difficult for daughters to even step out of their homes. But now, under the BJP government, anyone harbouring negative thoughts against daughters knows exactly what the consequences will be. Bhartiya Nyan Sanhita has also given sisters and daughters a new confidence in their safety," he said....