Varanasi to revamp 119 parks and heritage streets with Rs 69.21 crore

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) has signed two Memorandums of Understanding worth Rs 69.21 crore for urban-development projects in Varanasi, covering the redevelopment of 119 public parks, food-street hubs and heritage streets.

The projects are being taken up under BPCL’s corporate social responsibility programme and are intended to improve public spaces, visitor facilities and infrastructure in key areas of the city.

Under the first MoU, BPCL will provide Rs 48 crore for the redevelopment and beautification of 119 public parks and the development of two food-street hubs at Sarnath and Maidagin.

The park works will include landscaping, walking pathways, seating areas, children’s play equipment, open gyms, lighting, horticulture and drainage improvements.

The two food-street hubs will include organised vending infrastructure, water and sanitation facilities, CCTV surveillance, solar lighting and other visitor amenities.

The project will be implemented through a partnership involving BPCL, the Kashi Integrated Parking and Recreational Foundation and Varanasi Smart City Ltd.

A second MoU, valued at Rs 21.21 crore, has been signed with the Varanasi Development Authority for beautification of important heritage streets and routes.

The work will cover the heritage corridor from Thatheri Heritage Lane to the Kaal Bhairav Temple, facade enhancement along the route from Godowlia Crossing to Maidagin Crossing, and redevelopment and beautification of the lane leading to the Manikarnikeshwar Temple at Manikarnika Ghat.

The planned interventions include heritage-sensitive streetscape improvements, stone paving, facade treatment, lighting, signage, street furniture, murals, public art, drainage and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.

The projects are intended to improve the movement and experience of residents, pilgrims, tourists and local vendors while retaining the character of Varanasi’s historic areas.

The MoUs were signed in Varanasi in the presence of Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari, Divisional Commissioner S Rajalingam, BPCL Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Khanna and other officials.

The overall project duration is 36 months.

Together, the two initiatives will cover public parks, visitor-oriented facilities and heritage streets across different parts of Varanasi, combining urban amenity upgrades with improvements around major religious and cultural destinations.