Varanasi: The Varanasi Municipal Corporation is accelerating development works to promote tourism and streamline traffic management in the city. A mechanised multilevel car parking facility is being built at a cost of Rs 9.84 crore to ease congestion in the Assi Ghat and Bhadaini areas, while a modern food plaza is being developed at a cost of Rs 2.14 crore to provide better amenities to tourists.Municipal commissioner Himanshu Nagpal conducted an on-site inspection on Sunday night at Assi Ghat, Pushkar Kund, Ravindrapuri, Bhelupur and nearby areas to review the progress of these projects and assess sanitation arrangements.During the inspection of Assi Food Plaza, the municipal commissioner directed the contractor to speed up construction and complete the work within one month. The food plaza is expected to offer domestic and international tourists a modern experience of Banarasi cuisine, especially those visiting to enjoy Subah-e-Banaras at Assi Ghat.Reviewing the mechanised multilevel car parking project, being constructed to reduce heavy traffic congestion near the ghats, Nagpal instructed officials to ensure timely completion of the work. He also ordered repairs to the interlocking road from Assi to Pushkar Kund, construction of drains, and beautification along the edges of the bitumen road.At Pushkar Kund, the municipal commissioner directed officials to examine encroachments obstructing the widening of lanes and remove them immediately. He also issued strict instructions for thorough cleaning of the kund’s base to improve water cleanliness and maintenance.As part of the inspection, Nagpal ordered the immediate repair and activation of non-functional streetlights on the Ravindrapuri-Gurudham crossing route. He also directed beautification of the divider in front of Jal Kal Sansthan campus in Bhelupur.While reviewing public toilets and civic amenities, he found that some facilities, including “no water use” urinals and toilets on Gurudham Road and at Assi Ghat, lacked prescribed rate lists and standard amenities such as hand dryers. Expressing strong displeasure, he instructed officials to ensure that rate lists are displayed at all public and community toilets across the city and that all standard facilities are restored without delay.
