Temple road-widening project in Varanasi puts livelihoods in peril

A major road widening project in Dal Mandi, a busy, centuries-old market near the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, has left hundreds of shopkeepers and residents blindsided by displacement.

As many as 187 buildings have been identified as being demolished along the 650-metre Dal Mandi as part of a ₹224-crore project to facilitate pilgrims’ access to the temple under the larger Kashi Vishwanath Corridor plan. Authorities estimate that more than 1,000 shops operate in these structures, endangering the livelihoods of thousands of traders.

Sitting in his dilapidated two-storey house in Varanasi’s Aadivisheshwar district, 52-year-old Sanjay Aggarwal is anxiously weighing his options after learning that his rented grocery shop, run by his family for four generations, has been marked for relocation. Born and raised in the narrow streets of Kashi, Aggarwal said the shop was his family’s only source of income. “My great-grandfather came from Lahore in the 1920s to live on the banks of the Ganges. He believed that dying in Kashi would bring about that.” moksha (liberation). He rented the shop from Raja of Banaras. “Now, four generations later, we live in constant fear of displacement,” he said.

Dal Mandi has long been a bustling wholesale and retail hub trading in clothing, groceries, fabrics, household goods and handicrafts. The market caters to customers from eastern Uttar Pradesh and western Bihar and offers affordable products under one roof.

Following the surveys, notices were sent to property owners in October 2025 and the government offered compensation at twice the flat rate of ₹44,000 per square metre. “The market price is at least four times what they are offering. But the problem is with the shop owners on rent. Where will we go? There are five to seven shops in each building. At least 1,000 shops may be closed permanently. Thousands of people will be jobless,” Aggarwal said.

Loss of cultural heritage

Farhan Khan, a third-generation mobile phone accessories trader whose shop was saved, said he was saddened to see many of his close friends and acquaintances losing their livelihoods in the project. “The market represents our identity. Losing these stores means more than just financial ruin. It means losing the cultural heritage built over generations,” he said.

“These streets are full of memories. Traditions are being erased for the sake of the road. We are defending not only our shops but also our existence,” Khan added.

The demolition attempt caused panic. Last week, a building owner set his property on fire after authorities took action to raze the structures after receiving notice 15 days ago. Political parties staged protests, and some questioned why the marches were not paused during Ramzan, when the region has a large majority of Muslims.

Aggarwal’s mother, Rita Aggarwal, said police warned her son after his comments were featured prominently in the media. The family now plans to move the grocery store to the ground floor of their house. “But sales will drop by 75% due to fewer footfalls here. Only private customers will come,” he said, adding that the average rent for a 100 square meter shop here exceeds ₹20,000 per month.

‘This is a disaster’

The house and clothing store of 44-year-old Imran Ali are in danger of demolition. “We will almost be on the road. This is not just money, it is our birthplace. Six generations have lived here,” he said. Waiting for closure, Ali enrolled his wife for B.Ed. He took the course to earn an alternative income and asked two of his employees to look for other jobs. “At least he will earn income until I look for economical ways. This is a disaster for us,” Ali said.

He said his father suffered a stroke following the devastation announcement, which doctors attributed to emotional distress. “It takes a year to build a house, but it takes generations to build a home,” Ali said.

The state government has approved the proposal for widening of Dal Mandi-Chowk police station road in 2023-24 to facilitate direct access from Naisadak to Gate No. 4 of the temple. The 650-meter section will have a 17.4-meter widened passage with 3.2-meter-wide pathways and underground facilities on both sides.

A collapsed structure in Dal Mandi market in Varanasi. | Photo Credit: SANDEEP SAXENA

The Ministry of Public Works issued notices to 187 buildings, requesting ownership documents in order to finalize the compensation through negotiation. Officials have warned that formal land acquisition will take place if negotiations fail. The demolitions, which started in January this year, caused chaos.

Some residents said the 200-metre alternative route from Kodai ki Chowki to Dashashwamedh police station, which they said would impact fewer buildings, was ignored despite recommendations during the Social Impact Assessment (SIA), a mandatory process under the land acquisition law. “The basic idea behind SIA is to reduce social unrest, choose the shortest route, address challenges in land acquisition and speed up implementation of development projects. However, none of these were followed. The long route with Muslim majority was chosen for the process,” Aggarwal said.

‘Selective targeting’

Congress leader Shahnawaz Alam termed the move as “selective targeting”. Alam said, “It is known that the majority of the buildings, shop owners and residents here are Muslim. The main purpose of the project is to distress and deprive them. This is wrong as it will lead to economic marginalization, disrupt the social structure and drag hundreds of people into deep psychological distress.”

People witness major demolition work for the road widening project at Dal Mandi market in Varanasi. | Photo Credit: SANDEEP SAXENA

Local BJP municipal councilor Indresh Kumar Singh defends the project, saying many structures are unsafe or encroach on the road. “There is faulty wiring in the area which hinders emergency access. The project will transform congested areas into a functional, safe and economically efficient space and facilitate the movement of pilgrims,” ​​he said.

Alam responds by saying that thousands of buildings in Varanasi resemble the structures in Dal Mandi. “Disorganized order is a reality in Kashi, one of the oldest cities in human history. People come from far away to seek salvation and worship. Why target a densely populated area and take away the livelihoods of thousands of people?” he said.

Edited by: Mehraj Bhat

It was published – 01 March 2026 19:00 IST