VARANASI: On Thursday, significant portions of over 32 out of 41 buildings in the Baulia Lehartara area were demolished as part of the project for the six-lane Mohansarai-Cantt railway station road.
Under strict security, a Public Works Department (PWD) team, led by Executive Engineer K.K. Singh, arrived with numerous earthmovers, bulldozers, loaders, and dumpers to begin the demolition.
As part of the Rs 410 crore project, the work on the stretch from Mohansarai to Collectory Farm (Chandpur) is nearly complete. Despite serving eviction notices to building owners in 2025, the PWD had been unable to proceed with demolitions as the owners sought refuge in the Allahabad High Court, claiming rights to the land.
Divisional Commissioner S. Rajalingam stated that the land upon which the buildings sit is owned by the PWD. However, some building owners challenged the eviction notice in court, which granted them time until the PWD produced ownership documents.
Following the submission of the necessary documents to the court, demolition work that had been delayed has now resumed, as officials emphasize that only the portions required for road construction will be taken, ensuring safety measures are in place.
The construction of this segment of the six-lane Mohansarai-Lehartara road is part of the larger Rs 410-crore project to convert the Mohansarai-Chakia crossing road in Chandauli district, passing through Varanasi (Cantonment) railway station and DDU Nagar (Mughalsarai). The project was approved in 2021, with all preliminary formalities completed by 2022, allowing work to commence in 2023 after receiving a no-objection certificate from the forest department.
The project is divided into three segments. The first segment, from Mohansarai to Lehartara, is approximately 75% complete. The section from Chowkaghat to Bhadauchungi has been finished, maximizing widening with the available space. The part between Bhadauchungi and Padao is included in the railway’s six-lane double-decker signature bridge project across the Ganga, with work from Padao to DDU Nagar nearing completion.
