Uttar Pradesh: Security beefed up in Varanasi's Dalmandi as demolition of mosques for road-widening project enters day two
Varanasi, July 2
Security has been intensified in the Dalmandi market area of Varanasi on Thursday as the demolition of five mosques, as part of an ongoing road-widening project, entered its second day.
To maintain law and order, security forces have strictly barred public movement in the affected lane, setting up multiple barricades across key intersection points leading toward the demolition site.
The Mirza Karimullah Beg Masjid, adjacent to the Chowk police station, along with four other mosques, is being dismantled as part of the infrastructure project. Four others are Nesaran ki Masjid, Rangile Shah Masjid, Ali Raza Masjid and Sangmarmar Masjid.
The local administration has deployed a massive security contingent in the area, including personnel from the Rapid Action Force (RAF), Paramilitary forces, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), and the state police.
Media personnel have also been restricted from entering the Dalmandi area.
To keep the operations discreet and avoid local flare-ups, the structures undergoing demolition have been covered with large sheets of cloth. The heightened security measures follow warnings of potential protests from members of the local community.
The local administration is also monitoring the entire area using drone cameras to ensure round-the-clock surveillance and prevent any untoward incidents.
The demolition is part of the ambitious Dalmandi road-widening project, the foundation stone for which was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 2, 2025.
The Rs 215-crore project aims to widen a 650-meter stretch of road from Chowk to Nai Sadak to 17.4 meters, modernising the route to ease traffic congestion and facilitate smoother access for tourists and devotees visiting the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
The infrastructure project involves the acquisition and modification of 181 buildings and six religious structures (mosques). More than 75 per cent of the project work has already been completed, and the administration has distributed over Rs 60 crore in compensation to the affected parties so far.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This feels like a dangerous precedent. Demolishing places of worship, even for development, sets a troubling tone for religious harmony. I'm not against infrastructure, but there must be better ways to handle this than covering them with sheets and restricting media. Transparency matters.
The article says 75% work already done and 60+ crore in compensation paid. That's not a random demolition - this is a planned project. The foundation was laid by PM Modi himself in 2025. Can't please everyone, but development is development. Varanasi needs this modernization for tourists and locals alike.
I'm conflicted. On one hand, the compensation seems fair and the project is for public benefit. On the other, covering mosques with cloth and restricting media doesn't inspire confidence that this is being done sensitively. Religious sites should be treated with respect, even during demolitions.
As someone from Varanasi, I can tell you the congestion in Dalmandi is unbearable, especially during festivals. The Kashi Vishwanath corridor project has already transformed the city. Yes, it's sad to lose old structures, but if 181 buildings are being acquired, why single out just the mosques? This is about infrastructure, not religion. 🤔
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