The Varanasi Municipal Corporation has approved shifting all meat and fish shops from inside the city to designated spots on the outskirts. Officials announced the move on Sunday to enhance urban management and sanitation.
The governing body endorsed the plan during a meeting at the Town Hall in Maidagin on Saturday, chaired by Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari. Discussions covered urban development, encroachment, and public welfare, with market relocation as a main outcome.
Public Relations Officer Sandeep Srivastava noted the civic body backed a systematic transfer of these markets to peripheral zones. Municipal Commissioner Himanshu Nagpal told the meeting that five sites have been chosen for the first phase.
The locations lie near the outer limits to reduce disruption for residents. Shops will move to Ramnagar, Sujabad, Ganeshpur, Avleshpur, and Shivpur. Around 350 to 400 such outlets currently operate within city boundaries.
The goal is better hygiene, smoother market operations, and maintained access for buyers. Corporator Gulshan Ali recalled a similar proposal made nearly a year ago that was not carried out. Traders also raised worries about annual closures during Shravan affecting their income.
Nagpal assured the house that land has been identified and implementation will start soon. The mayor said the process should finish within six months, noting that current shops inside the city are illegal and that relocation suits a major tourist destination.
Traders expressed concerns. One operator in Nathupur warned that moving shops outward would inconvenience both sellers and customers, adding travel costs and time. He urged a practical solution balancing trader and public needs.
