India's NITI Aayog proposes Kashi‑Vindhya economic hub in Uttar Pradesh

A high‑level meeting chaired by Ashok Kumar Lahiri, Deputy Chairman of NITI Aayog, reviewed development projects in Varanasi and the wider Kashi‑Vindhya region. Senior officials including Divisional Commissioner S. Rajalingam, District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar and Municipal Commissioner Himanshu Nagpal attended.

The plan envisions transforming the seven‑district Kashi‑Vindhya area—home to 23 million people and contributing about $24 billion to Uttar Pradesh’s GDP—into a $600 billion economic hub under the “Develop India 2047” vision. Targets include creating 500,000‑700,000 jobs, building premium hotels, expanding manufacturing and logistics, attracting power‑sector investment, and boosting agriculture, fisheries and forestry. The proposal also stresses water‑conservation, primary education, health, nutrition and social‑sector improvements, with directives to monitor anaemia patients using a TB‑eradication‑style outreach.

Officials were urged to ensure timely, transparent implementation, better inter‑departmental coordination and that development benefits reach the last person, aligning with India’s 2030 development goals.