Modi to meet rickshaw pullers in Varanasi on Friday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi would meet a large number of rickshaw and cart pullers during a visit to his Varanasi parliamentary constituency on Friday, officials said.

The prime minister is slated to attend an event at a multi-purpose ground, where he would also distribute 501 cycle-rickshaws and 101 e-rickshaws under the Jan Dhan scheme.

Modi would also distribute about 1,000 solar-powered lanterns to the poor and needy in the temple town, officials told IANS.

As per the district administration, the prime minister would land at Varanasi airport in a special Indian Air Force plane at 10.50 a.m.

Modi would meet BJP leaders and workers from the city at the DLW guesthouse in the holy city. He would also inaugurate a trauma centre at the Banaras Hindu University through a remote control from the DLW grounds, where he would address a public rally.

The prime minister would lay the foundation stones of Integrated Power Distribution System, Varanasi Ring Road Phase I and development of NH-58 from Babatpur airport to Varanasi city square.

The prime minister's visit would extend over around nine hours, a home department official said.

Modi would fly back to New Delhi at 7.40 p.m.