In a major policy shift aimed at streamlining urban infrastructure and public amenities, the Varanasi Municipal Corporation has announced a phased plan to shift all meat, fish and poultry shops from within the city limits to designated areas in the suburbs.
The decision was formalized during a general meeting of the House of Representatives chaired by Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari at the historic city hall in Maidagin.
Municipal Commissioner Himanshu Nagpal outlined the road map for the transition process. In the first phase, five strategic locations, namely Ramnagar, Sujaabad, Ganeshpur, Aveleshpur and Shivpur, were identified to host these markets. The move follows long-standing discussions regarding urban sanitation, zoning, and challenges faced by traders during specific religious periods, such as Ramadan.
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The company has also taken decisive action on several other fronts to boost the city’s development. Mayor Tiwari directed an immediate auction of nearly 40,000 cubic meters of soil excavated from the Jal Kal settlement reservoir to boost municipal revenue.
Strict instructions have been issued to complete the construction of six major roads under the Prime Minister’s Networking Scheme as per contractual timelines.
Addressing concerns regarding the Kashi Interpretation Centre, the administration clarified that the historic Bhilupur Jal Kal building will remain intact. The project will instead use vacant land and include solar infrastructure.
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A proposal to develop a dedicated fruit retail market in Shivpur, with 500 shops, has been mooted to better organize the city’s commercial landscape. In a commendable display of environmental responsibility, the meeting was preceded by a symbolic gesture of sustainability. City Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari, Municipal Commissioner Himanshu Nagpal and other officials reached the city hall using e-rickshaws.
The measure strengthened the municipality’s ‘No Fuel Day’ initiative, which is celebrated every Saturday in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationwide call to conserve the environment and reduce carbon emissions.
The meeting served as a forum for intense debate on urban well-being, with council members highlighting issues ranging from encroachment on local ponds and door-to-door garbage collection to ensuring water delivery in the city’s newly expanded neighbourhoods.
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By balancing heritage preservation with modern infrastructural needs, the Varanasi Municipal Corporation aims to create a more orderly and environmentally conscious future for the Kashi region.
