Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the International Cooperation of Varanasi and the Convention Center, which was built by financial assistance from Japan, by planting Rudraksh plants in its place, said Senior Varanasi Nigam Varanasi said. VICCC has been named Rudractiona in recognition of the relationship between ancient city with Lord Shiva.
On the night of the inauguration, the center has been decorated to maintain Japanese and Indian culture in mind. Bamboo, gravel, small bonsai trees, mats, lanterns, ceramic pots, rice paper, straws have been used for decorations other than decorative lights and different flowers. More than a ton of marigold flowers have also been used.
During the Venanation visit in December 2015, then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe talented VICCC project to the city. The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funded around ₹ 186 crore, project costs. In addition, the Japanese company Fujita Corporation was given a contract to build a convention center.
Suzuki Satoshi Ambassador, his wife Chikaga Suzuki, Kiyose Kazuhiro counselor, Secretary of Oda Akari and Team Three JICA members, led by the Main Representative of Matsumoto Katsuo, will also be present on that occasion.
A total of 108 Rudraksh had been installed in the convention center and the roof shaped like Linga Siwa, officials said, adding that the whole building would shine with LED lights at night.
The two-story convention center has appeared in the Posh Sigra area at 2.87 hectares of land and has a seating capacity of 1,200 people.
The official said The Rudraksh Center would further increase city tourism potential because it was ideal for holding international conferences, exhibitions and music concerts among other events and galleries carried out with murals that describe art, culture and music vanasi, they added.
Built with assistance from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, VICCC is an environmentally friendly building, suitable for obtaining level 3 green ranked for integrated habitat assessment (GRIHA).
CEO of the Smart City Varanasi Project, Gazang Rathi, said the center was equipped with a sophisticated building management system and bragging galleries, meeting rooms, and parking for 120 four wheels. The main hall can be partitioned into smaller space or space and when needed, he said.
Professor Kaushal Kishore Mishra, Dean, the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Banaras Hindu (BHU), said, “VICCC is a symbol of Indian-Japanese friendship in Varanasi.”
In September 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was named Varanasi Convention Center as a rudraction during the Indian-Japanese annual Summit in Ahmedabad, where the central design was launched.
“I have won it Rudraksh – a symbol of love, and a Prasad god of Shiva for humanity. This Rudraksh will be a Japanese love bouquet for Varanasi. It will also be a tribute to the shared Buddhist heritage present at Sarnath,” Modi said.
After that, the construction began in 2018 and was completed in April 2021 before being submitted to Varanasi Smart City Limited on May 31.
During his visit to Varanasi, Modi will also inaugurate and put the foundation stones from various development projects worth more than ₹ 1,500 crores, an official who is aware of the PM schedule.
