Varanasi: Tensions ran high in Varanasi’s Dalmandi area as police detained at least six people protesting the demolition of 21 buildings deemed unsafe by the Varanasi Municipal Corporation. The situation escalated when a local set his house on fire, pouring petrol on the balcony, and fled the scene, prompting a police search.The Dalmandi road widening project in Varanasi is moving forward, with 29 buildings purchased by the Public Works Department (PWD) out of the 187 identified for the project. The Rs 224 crore project aims to convert the 650-metre road into a 17.4-metre-wide road, improving accessibility to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Of those 29 buildings, PWD has razed 16. Last week, VMC had also served notices to the owners of 21 dilapidated buildings in Dalmandi, asking them to vacate within three days for demolition. A high-voltage drama unfolded on Monday as a joint team of PWD, VMC, and the district administration arrived with six bulldozers to start demolishing 21 dilapidated buildings, sparking tensions and protests. As officials approached Rahmat Ali’s building in Dalmandi, he appeared on the balcony with a mug of petrol, threatening to set the house ablaze. Despite attempts to calm him, he sprinkled fuel on the balcony, wooden door, and nearby people, and set it on fire. Chaos erupted as people fled, and Ali escaped by jumping to a neighbouring building’s terrace.It took almost half an hour to bring the situation under control near Ali’s house, after which demolition work started. DCP Kashi Gaurav Banswal, who along with ADM (City) Alok Kumar led the joint team, said that the flames were doused with the help of a fire tender and no loss of life was caused in this incident. Cops have been engaged to nab Ali, he added.Locals and traders were seen arguing with officials at different points that the demolition was targeting their area unfairly. They alleged that thousands of dilapidated buildings in the district were being ignored, while their homes were being torn down. Protests turned heated, with people pushing cops and trying to block the demolition team. Cops responded by dragging protesters away, with several taken to the Chowk police station. After the end of the Monday’s demolition drive, ACP Dashaswamedh Atul Anjan Tripathi said that a total of six persons were held and taken to the Chowk police station to stop them from hindering work. He said that legal action would be taken against Ali for indulging in arson. As of now, the demolition process in Varanasi’s Dalmandi area has affected 50 buildings since Oct 2025. Out of these, 16 have been completely demolished, while work is ongoing at 34 others. PWD executive engineer said 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. Whether the owners of those 21 buildings, which were being demolished after VMC declared them dilapidated, will get anything? Reacting to it, PWD executive engineer KK Singh said that the compensation amount for them will be fixed on the basis of the value of their land and the norms prescribed to pay for dilapidated built area.
