Dalmandi Widening Project: Portions of Five Mosques Removed Amid Tight Security

VARANASI: Portions of five mosques in Varanasi's Dalmandi area were removed on July 1 as work continued on the old-city road widening project, according to available information. The action was carried out amid tight security and was linked to the ongoing effort to widen the congested market stretch.

The removal work was reported to have been done manually, with workers using hammers and other hand tools instead of heavy machinery in the immediate sensitive zone. The approach appears to have been chosen because of the narrow lane, the built-up surroundings and the need to avoid unnecessary damage to adjoining structures.

Security Deployment Around the Work Site

Security personnel were deployed in large numbers around the affected stretch. Reports said more than 500 police and security personnel were present in and around the area while the work was carried out. Barricading and route management were also used to keep movement under control and to prevent crowding near the demolition points.

No major law-and-order incident was reported during the removal work. Officials and police personnel remained present through the operation because Dalmandi is a dense commercial locality and the work involved religious structures, making careful handling essential.

Community Cooperation Reported

Available information indicates that members of the local Muslim community came forward during the process and supported the removal of portions that fell within the road widening alignment. The development has therefore been treated by the administration as part of the wider civic project rather than as a standalone religious action.

The reported cooperation is significant because the Dalmandi project has passed through several sensitive stages over recent months. Traders, residents and religious committees have all followed the work closely due to concerns around access, livelihood, heritage, religious structures and traffic movement in the old city.

Dalmandi Project Continues

The Dalmandi widening project is intended to improve movement through one of Varanasi's busiest old-market zones. The locality has narrow lanes, dense shops and heavy pedestrian movement, which often makes emergency access and routine traffic difficult.

The latest phase shows that clearance and road widening work is still continuing in parts of the stretch. Further work will depend on measurements, site conditions, administrative coordination and the status of remaining affected structures.

Because the development involves religious and civic sensitivities, official communication and calm ground management will remain important. Residents and shopkeepers are likely to watch the next steps closely as the widening work moves forward in Dalmandi.