Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started his Japan visit with a pact to make Varanasi into a ‘smart city’. The city shall be developed on the lines of Kyoto, Japan’s former capital for more than 1,000 years.

Modi signed pact with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe to mark the launch of the Smart heritage city program between the two nations to develop 100 smart cities vision.

Both Kyoto and Varanasi are the most oldest cities with a rich heritage and the MoU will work towards modernisation while conserving the heritage.

Modi visited Kyoto,to pick up ideas for his ‘100 smart cities’ plan. Abe was personally present to receive Modi as a good faith gesture.