In early 2026, the Public Works Department (PWD) and Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) began demolishing residential and commercial structures in the Dal Mandi. The demolition drive is part of a Rs 224-crore road-widening project intended to widen 2-4 metres wide lanes into 17.5 meters wide and 650 metres long pathway to facilitate access to the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor. The PWD stated that the project aims to decongest the city's inner routes and build a broader access road linking key temple-bound stretches.
Dal Mandi serves as a wholesale and retail hub of clothing, fabrics, handicrafts, household goods, groceries and more for customers from Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Western Bihar, offering affordable goods all at one place. The historic location is home to generations of small traders, artisans, and tenants operating from mixed-use buildings.
Following surveys, the notices were served to at least 187 building complexes owners in October 2025, seeking ownership documents to finalise compensation through negotiation. They were offered compensation at twice the circle rate of Rs 44,000 per square metre. However, residents, owners, and tenants alleged inadequate consultation, short notice periods, and uncertainty over compensation or rehabilitation. They further claimed that the market price is at least four times what they are being offered.
Locals said that each building houses five to seven shops and the demolition of complexes will render at least 1,000 shopkeepers unemployed. Concerns have also been raised about the potential demolition of religious structures, including six mosques located along the proposed road-widening.
On 21 January 2026, eight houses were demolished, while on 31 January, the Municipal Corporation issued notices to 23 owners warning them about the proposed action. By 9 February, 29 structures had been razed, while action was underway against 21 buildings that were declared unsafe and dilapidated two days ago.
During the February demolition drive, tensions escalated after a building owner set part of his property on fire in protest. The Varanasi Police registered FIRs against two individuals and detained at least six persons protesting the demolition.
The affected locals demanded immediate halt to demolitions, fair compensation, proper rehabilitation plan, transparency in due processes, protection of religious structures, and review of project scale (17.5 meters widening plan for 2-4 meters lanes).
PWD executive engineer told the Times of India that the process to purchase 29 buildings has been completed by paying Rs 23.50 crore as compensation among 104 shareholders. Of the total project cost, Rs 194 crore is meant for the purchase and acquisition of identified buildings, he said, adding that papers for 20 buildings have been submitted by their owners and were being examined to complete the process of purchasing.
The conflict shows a broader picture of urban redevelopment and heritage-based tourism versus livelihood security, tenure rights, due process violations, protections for long-settled commercial and residential occupants.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for more compensation than promised
Demand for rehabilitation
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Stopping the demolition of their livelihoods, ensuring fair compensation, and objecting to the perceived arbitrary nature of the project.
Region Classification
Urban
Type of Land
Common and Private
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
Preventive Detention
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
7
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Currently detained
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Don't Know
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
Section 221 [ Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions.]
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project underway despite protests
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Commercial
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
224
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
2025
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Land Acquisition Laws, Other
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
No
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Incorrect estimation of compensation
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Arrest/detention/imprisonment
Displacement
Self-immolation/suicide
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
Reported Details of the Violation:
In an incident where a shopkeeper set his own shop on fire, a case was registered at the Chowk police station against two named individuals and other unidentified people under Section 221 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police detained at least six people during a demolition drive in February 2026 to stop them from obstructing the work.
Date of Violation
February 8, 2026
Location of Violation
Dal Mandi market area
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Public Works Department (PWD); Varanasi Development Authority (VDA)
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Local Trader Associations & Residents; Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR)
What was the action taken by the police?
Preventive Detention
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
7
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Currently detained
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Don't Know
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
Section 221 [ Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions.]
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
