Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the Deendayal Hastkala Sankul, a trade facilitation centre for handicrafts at Varanasi, to the nation recently. Its foundation stone was laid by him in November 2014 at and the first phase of the project, comprising a crafts museum, an entrance plaza and a shopping arcade, was inaugurated by him in December 2016. Inaugurating the centre, Modi said it would help artisans and weavers showcase their skills to the world, facilitate a better future for them, attract tourists and boost the local economy. With a cost of about Rs 300 crore, the project covers 7.93 acres. The centre will help boost incomes of weavers and artisans, Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said.
The Varanasi centre will help weavers, artisans and exporters to promote handlooms and handicrafts in both domestic and international markets. The crafts museum will preserve the traditional products of Varanasi. The complex is equipped with automated building management systems, central AC and ventilation systems, power back-up, fire protection and public address systems and a CCTV system.