By Akhilesh Tripathi
LUCKNOW: TheVaranasi district administration on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, demolished as many as five mosques falling within the alignment of the Dal Mandi road widening project in Varanasi city.
However, the administration has not touched the sixth mosque because its matter is currently pending before the court.
The Dal Mandi road widening project is regarded as one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship infrastructure initiatives in Varanasi. The project aims to expand the existing road to a width of 17.5 metres, creating an alternative access route to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
The approximately 650-metre stretch begins at Kapda Mandi and ends near Chowk Police Station. While the road is about nine metres wide near Kapda Mandi, it narrows to just three metres by the time it reaches Chowk. The route, which serves as a major commercial hub with nearly 10,000 shops owned by both Hindu and Muslim traders, has long been affected by encroachments.
The road widening work has been underway for the past eight months in the predominantly Muslim locality of Dal Mandi. A total of 187 buildings, including six mosques, fall within the project area. According to officials, demolition has already been carried out on 162 structures, with nearly 70 buildings completely razed. Authorities also state that agreements have been reached with the management committees of five mosques to facilitate the project.
Demolition work had been temporarily suspended during Muharram but resumed after the observance concluded.
This story was originally published in indiatomorrow.net. Read the full story here.
