Will Bulldozers Run Over Varanasi’s Muslim-Majority Dal Mandi Area? Ten Mosques and Thousands of Shops at Risk – Here’s Why

Varanasi, 10 February – (DeccanLive.com): Tension has risen in Varanasi’s Muslim-majority Dal Mandi market over a proposal to widen the road. This plan could affect ten mosques and around 10,000 shops. Local traders see this as a political move. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has stated that the expansion is necessary to improve facilities for devotees visiting the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor.

In 2022, tensions flared in Varanasi after a claimed “Shivling” was found in the Gyanvapi Mosque. Now, the city faces another issue. According to a report by The Wire, mosques and shops in the Dal Mandi market, a Muslim-majority area, are under threat due to the proposed road widening. There are six mosques in Dal Mandi and four more nearby, making a total of ten mosques that could be impacted.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Varanasi on December 6 to review the development project for the Dal Mandi area. He said, “To ensure that Hindu devotees visiting the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor face no inconvenience, the 8-foot road near the Kashi Vishwanath Temple will be expanded into a 23-foot corridor.” However, Muslim traders believe that using bulldozers in Dal Mandi is a politically motivated move.

Dal Mandi market, filled with Muslim traders, is close to the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and the Gyanvapi Mosque. Widening the road for Hindu devotees could lead to the demolition of around 10,000 shops. The Varanasi Municipal Corporation has completed a survey and submitted its report to the government. Commissioner Kaushal Raj Sharma has also sought the report. The lives of those who have lived and worked in Dal Mandi for years are now at stake.

Devotees coming to Kashi for darshan and puja currently travel about 2.5 kilometers to reach the Vishwanath Corridor. To shorten this distance, the 8-foot road in Dal Mandi will be widened to 23 feet. This means shops on both sides of the road will lose 7.5 feet of space. Once widened, the distance to Vishwanath Dham will be reduced to just one kilometer.

Local councilor Indresh Kumar said, “Widening the road will improve emergency services and enhance convenience for tourists.” Dal Mandi market is home to over 10,000 businesses, including cosmetics, wedding supplies, jewelry, decorations, fancy clothes, groceries, catering, furniture, electronics, smartphones, watches, and glass factories. For Muslim traders, artisans, and laborers, this market has been a major source of livelihood for years.