Varanasi, Feb. 3 -- The Union Budget proposals which aim to give Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency, a connectivity boost and enrich its heritage have been welcomed here. The budget has proposed provisions for setting up a ship maintenance facility, an integrated freight park, two high speed rail corridors - Varanasi-Delhi and Siliguri-Varanasi - and the development of Sarnath as a cultural hub. Welcoming the proposals, Varanasi divisional commissioner S Rajalingam said, "Establishing a ship maintenance facility in Varanasi on National Waterway-1 will support cargo movement. This will strengthen logistics, river-based transport, and generate skilled employment in the region. It will create a ship repair ecosystem for the vessels in Varanasi." The work on the ship repairing facility being set up at Varanasi will also catch pace, Rajalingam added. Varanasi already has a multi-modal terminal that the prime minister inaugurated in November 2018. Sanjeeva Kumar, regional director, IWAI Varanasi office, said, "The main objective of the Ship Repairing Facility Centre is to provide mobility and centralised facilities for quick repair works to cruise, cargo and other small boats operating on National Waterway No. 1 (on the Ganga)." Of the seven high-speed rail corridors announced in the Union Budget, two are Delhi-Varanasi and Varanasi-Siliguri. Welcoming the proposal, Rajalingam said, "This will enable faster, sustainable passenger transport and regional economic integration." The budget also emphasises the cultural and tourism significance of the Varanasi region by including Sarnath among 15 archaeological sites that will be developed as experiential cultural destinations, opened to the public through curated walkways. Plans include bringing in conservation labs, interpretation centres and immersive storytelling skills and technologies to assist guides. An integrated logistics hub will be constructed in Varanasi. The budget proposes Rs.107.72 crore for the upgradation of the Institute of Medical Sciences- Banaras Hindu University (BHU). BHU vice chancellor Prof Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi said that it is heartening to see that education, skill development and innovation in scientific research, medicine and Ayush have been given due importance in achieving the country's development goals. "The allocation of funds for integration of Al in Medicine is a welcome step. This will help take healthcare solutions to the next level and extend their benefits to a greater population. ' Another key announcement is regarding enhanced funding for evidence-based Ayurveda and clinical validation," he said.The budget also proposes strengthening infrastructure in pilgrimage towns and smaller cities. Under this scheme, Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities will receive Rs.5,000 crore annually for the next five years, further strengthening their role as religious, tourism, and transport hubs. Cities issuing single municipal bonds worth more than Rs.1,000 crore will receive an incentive of Rs.100 crore. Support under the AMRUT scheme will also continue for bond issues up to Rs.200 crore, enabling cities like Varanasi to access high-value municipal bonds....