India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated an airport and several other developmental projects worth billions of dollars at a Hindu pilgrimage city in India’s eastern Jharkhand state.
Mr Modi was on a one-day trip to Doeghar — home to Baidyanath Dham, one of the most sacred abodes of Hindu deity Lord Shiva.
More than 10 million pilgrims throng to the temple every year from across the country.
Big banners and posters of the prime minister were put up along an 11.5 kilometre-long stretch of road, where supporters cheered his motorcade as he waved from an open door of his vehicle, flanked by security guards.
There was a festive mood in the city, as hundreds of local residents lit 100,000 earthen lamps on the eve of his arrival to the city.
Mr Modi said the airport, the second in the state, will provide better connectivity for pilgrims.
He also laid the foundation stone of multiple road projects and two large pilgrimage congregation halls, with a capacity of 2,000 pilgrims each, at Baidyanath Dham.
He also inaugurated an inpatient department and operating theatre at the government-run All India Institute of Medical Sciences, a hospital which aims to provide specialised health care to the public.
“Everybody feels happy visiting Baba’s Dham. With his blessings, today, we have inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of projects worth 16,000 crore (about $43 million),” Mr Modi said at the ceremony.
The development projects aim to boost infrastructure, enhance connectivity and transport, and improve facilities for tourists.
“These projects will boost health, tourism, business and create job opportunities for the people in the region and also benefit people from neighbouring eastern states of Bihar and Bengal,” he said.
The prime minister also launched various energy infrastructure projects for the mineral-rich region.
He laid the foundation stone for three railway projects, including one to revamp a railway station in state capital Ranchi to provide world-class passenger amenities.
“The proposed redeveloped Ranchi Station will have world-class passenger amenities including a food court, executive lounge, cafeteria, air-conditioned waiting halls, for ensuring ease of movement as well as comfort of the passengers,” a press statement said.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
The biog
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Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
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Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
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Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
Based: Dubai
Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded
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