Narendra Modi in Kedarnath: PM lays foundation stones for developmental projects, vows to create developed India by 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of his scheduled visit to Uttarakhand reached the Kedarnath Temple at around 10 am on Friday. The Himalayan shrine, dedicated to Shiva, will be closed beginning Saturday for six months owing to winter. Modi had visited the temple on May 3 this year when the doors of the shrine were opened to devotees.

Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for projects ‘worth hundreds of crores of rupees’, considering the incomplete flood protection works and reconstruction of Kedarpuri that needs to be done, state BJP president Ajay Bhatt told a leading media daily.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, state ministers and BJP workers are among the 4,000 people expected to be present at the temple premises.

Here are the live updates:

11:28 AM: We are building quality infrastructure in Kedarnath. It will be modern but the traditional ethos will be preserved. We will ensure the environment is not damaged: PM

11:25 AM: Through the work we are doing in Kedarnath, we want to show how an ideal ‘Tirth Kshetra’ should be, how it should be pilgrim friendly and the wellbeing of the priests should be given importance, says PM Modi

11:22 AM: But now through the development we are doing in Kedarnath, we want to show how an ideal ‘Tirth Kshetra’ should be: PM Modi

11:05 am:  PM Modi has begun addresing public rally at Kedarnath.

11:00 am: PM Modi lays the foundation stone of Kedarpuri reconstruction projects.

10:50 am - PM Modi has come out for the shrine. He would now lay the foundation stone for five projects around rebuilding of the Kedarnath township — Kedarpuri 

WATCH: PM Modi at Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand https://t.co/PPFqwTWBc9

— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2017

10:20 am: PM Modi enters the Kedarnath shrine to offer prayers to Lord Shiva to whom the Kedarnath shrine is dedicated.

WATCH: PM Modi at Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand https://t.co/PPFqwTWBc9

— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2017

10:01 am: PM Modi has reached Kedarnath. Trivendra Singh Rawat, KK Paul, Uttarakhand BJP President Ajay Bhatt and other party ministers and workers also present.