Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting visiting French President Emmanuel Macron in Varanasi today. PM Modi and President Macron have inaugurated a solar plant in Mirzapur district. Both the leaders will now visit the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Trade Facilitation Centre. They are visiting Assi ghat. Both the leaders have taken a boat ride on river Ganga. While President Macron will fly back to Delhi thereafter, PM Modi will flag off Varanasi-Patna intercity train from Manduadih railway station. PM Modi will also address a public rally.

President Macron is visiting India and had met with PM Modi on Saturday. They had a discussion over Indo-French trade and nuclear plants. The French president also praised India’s efforts towards moving towards renewable energy and also announced an additional investment of 700 million euro to reduce use of fossil fuels. He also lauded India’s efforts towards making the International Solar Alliance a reality. Notably, Varanasi is the Lok Sabha constituency of PM Modi. Earlier, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe visited Varanasi with the Prime Minister.

Track Live Updates of Narendra Modi, Emmanuel Macron in Varanasi

2:45 PM: More visuals from PM Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron’s boat-ride. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also present during boat-ride

2:35 PM: PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron are on a boat-ride

2:30 PM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron are visiting Assi ghat. Both the leaders are on a boat ride to Dashashwamedh Ghat

1:45 PM: French delegates, including President Emmanuel Macron, and PM Modi are witnessing cultural activities

1:40 PM: French President Emmanuel Macron is writing in the visitors book at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hastkala Sankul in Bada Lalpur, Varanasi.

1:30 pm: After inaugurating the solar power plant in Mirzapur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron have visited Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hastkala Sankul in Bada Lalpur, Varanasi.

1:24 pm: India needs some USD 83 billion between FY2018 and FY2022 to meet its 175 GW target, according to industry estimates. At present, the country’s renewable energy installed capacity is 63 GW. Solar and wind power tariffs have dropped to an all-time low of Rs 2.44 per unit and Rs 3.46 per unit, among the lowest in the world.

12:55 PM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron are visiting at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hastkala Sankul in Bada Lalpur, Varanasi.

12:50 PM: The solar power plant inaugurated by PM Modi and President Emmanuel Macron is the biggest of Uttar Pradesh. The solar power plant was built at a cost of around Rs 500 crore by French firm ENGIE.

12:45 pm: The  75 MW solar plant has been set up in Dadar Kalan village on the hilly terrain of the Vindhyas range. Some 1,18,600 solar panels have been set up in over 380 acres.

12:40 PM: It has been learnt the plant will generate 15.6 crore units of electricity annually, about 1.30 crore units per month. Power would be transmitted to Jigna sub-station of Mirzapur range of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd, officials said.

12:20 PM: PM Modi and President Macron pressed a button to energise the solar panels and dedicated the 75 MW facility to the people.

12:15 PM: Earlier, French president Macron and his wife Brigitte were received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the airstrip

11:46 AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the Solar Power Plant in Mirzapur.

11:04 AM: French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Varanasi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath received him.

10:43 AM:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Varanasi. He along with President Macron will attend a slew of events

10:40 AM: PM Modi and Macron will pay a visit the Assi ghat. At the Assi ghat, both leaders wiill take  a boat ride from Assi to Dashashwamedh ghat. Subsequently,  both the leaders will then head to the Taj Hotel

10:36 AM: PM Modi and President Macron will visit the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Trade facilitation Centre at Badalalpur

10:33 am: A 75-megawatt solar plant will be jointly inaugurated by PM Modi and France President Macron

10:31 AM: As per scedule, PM Modi and President will arrive at the Lal Bahadur Shastri International airport. Then they will fly to Mirzapur by a helicopter.

10:28 AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally today. Take a look at the preparations ahead of that rally

 

9:38 AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and France President Emmanuel Macron will inaugurate this solar plant in Mirzapur.

9:35 AM: Latest visual from Varanasi

9:31 AM: Preparations are underway in Assi Ghat and Dashashwamedh Ghat. PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron will pay a visit to these places today.