A Spectrum of Engineering Solutions
Located on the left bank of the River Ganga, Varanasi is one of India’s most sacred pilgrimage sites. Along its water frontage and miles of ghats, it houses the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, built in 1780. The city receives more than a million pilgrims and tourists each year, visiting the Mandir and its precinct. Engulfed by dense urban development, the precinct is interwoven amid narrow, winding streets, and an array of shrines and temples. Overtime, this part of the city has been
continuously built over by dense, ad-hoc, low-rise development, encroaching public spaces and severely constraining the access to the Mandir. Lack of
infrastructure and amenities hamper movement and daily life of locals and tourists in equal measure.
In 2018, Shri Kashi Vishwanath Special Area Development Board was constituted to implement its redevelopment. The Mandir, and its precinct extending up to
the three ghats, Lalita, Jalasen and Manikarnika, are together envisioned to be a part of the comprehensive redevelopment project called the Vishwanath Dham.
The redeveloped precinct provides a befitting setting to the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, with a picturesque path connecting the Mandir with the Ghats. Retaining
its significance in the complex, the temple is enclosed by an ornate colonnade, creating the spacious and sacred Mandir Parisar. The Mandir Chowk, a large open
space in front of the Mandir Parisar, will descend on to the main path leading to the Ghats. This path will be lined by important civic and cultural institutions such
as the City Museum, the Varanasi Gallery and the Multipurpose Hall.
They (the buildings) provide a variety of facilities to the pilgrims visiting Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, including Yatri Suvidha Kendra’s, Tourist Facilitation
Centre, Vedic Kendra, Mumukshu Bhavan, Bhogshala, City Museum, Viewing Galley, Food Court, among others.
Another attraction near the Mandir Chowk gate is, of course, the ‘viewing gallery’ on the second floor. The lifts of the building are state-of-the-art and the floors
are shining. From its vantage point, one gets a clear view of both the Ganga and the main Vishwanath temple. It is indeed a photographer’s boon to be up there
when the complex is packed, as the ghats and the temple appear quite near.
The Vishwanath Dham redevelopment is designed to demonstrate what meaningful and transformative urban redevelopment can do to improve India’s cities.
The Inclination – Vision
The prime Minister’s vision was to facilitate the pilgrims and devotees, who had to encounter congested streets and surroundings with poor upkeep, when they practiced the age-old custom of taking dip in the holy river, collecting Gangajal and offering it at the Baba Vishwanath temple.
To realise this vision, Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham was conceptualised as a project to cater an easily accessible pathway to connect Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple to the banks of the River Ganga. The foundation stone of the project was laid by the Prime Minister on 8th March 2019.
The project is now spread over a massive area of about 5 lakh square feet, whereas earlier premises was limited to just around 3000 square feet.
The project involved purchase and acquisitions of more than 300 properties around Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The rehabilitation of around 1400 shopkeepers, tenants and homeowners were done amicably.
The Team
Only since July 21st 2019, to carry out this vision and turning into reality, once again the responsibility was entrusted on the team trio of 3 companies
– of which Gujarat-based PSP Projects was the contractor, Ahmedabad-based HCP Design, Planning and Management Private Ltd the architect &
Adishwaram Corporation, Ahmedabad based were the Electrical Contractors whose work scope included all Electrical works along with Internal & External Lighting works including Facade Lighting.
Both the contractors (PSP Projects Ltd & Adishwaram Corporation) and the Architects of this project HCP Design, Planning & Management Pvt Ltd have done multiple government projects as a team in the past including the Sabarmati Riverfront project on the banks of River Sabarmati,
Ahmedabad.
Scope of Work
