Varanasi: Acting on chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s directive, the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust has introduced a day-long special entry for Varanasi residents through the ‘Kashi Dwar’, allowing them to access the temple from 4.15 am to 10.45 pm on regular days. Earlier, the facility was available only for two one-hour slots daily.The decision follows the CM’s announcement during his two-day visit to Varanasi. During a meeting with officials and public representatives on July 7, Yogi directed officials to provide a separate route for Kashi residents visiting the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple.On the first day of the expanded facility, 8,688 residents availed themselves of the dedicated entry route to offer prayers at the temple on Wednesday. By 1.30 pm on Thursday, another 5,196 local residents had already benefited from the arrangement.According to temple authorities, the temple trust had designated Gate No. 4-B as ‘Kashi Dwar’ in 2024 for the convenience of locals. Until now, the gate remained open for special darshan only from 4 am to 5 am and 4 pm to 5 pm every day.Expanding the facility, the trust has now allowed locals to enter through Kashi Dwar from 4.15 am to 10.45 pm — from 15 minutes after the temple opens until 15 minutes before it closes. The facility, however, will not be available on special occasions and festival days.Former minister and Varanasi South MLA Neelkanth Tiwari thanked the CM on behalf of Kashi residents for fulfilling the long-pending demand. He also urged that local traders should not face inconvenience due to the planned barricading between Maidagin and Godaulia during the upcoming Shravan month. He sought adequate ambulance arrangements along the route.
