Daijiworld Media Network – Varanasi

Varanasi, Jun 19: A fresh controversy has surfaced over the redevelopment of Kashi Railway Station after railway authorities issued a notice directing the Ganj Shaheeda mosque, situated near the station entrance, to vacate the premises by June 20 as part of an ongoing land-clearance drive for expansion works.

Railway officials said the notice was affixed to the mosque wall after completing the required legal formalities. The move forms part of a broader exercise to remove structures identified as encroachments in and around the station area to facilitate redevelopment and infrastructure upgrades.

Station Superintendent Arpit Gupta said land surrounding the station is required for the expansion project and that several locations have been marked for clearance. He noted that anti-encroachment drives had previously been conducted jointly by the Railways and the district administration.

According to officials, earlier drives led to the removal of a Hanuman temple and the Ajmer Shaheed mosque in the Rajghat area to pave the way for development activities. Gupta said the notice was pasted on the Ganj Shaheeda mosque three days ago, instructing occupants to vacate the site within the stipulated deadline.

The action has drawn strong opposition from the Intajamia Masjid Committee, which manages the mosque. Committee secretary Mohammad Yasin alleged that the notice was not legally valid as it reportedly lacked a date, signature and official railway insignia.

"If the Railways has pasted such notices, it is trying to disturb law and order," Yasin was quoted.

Yasin further claimed that the Railways had previously filed an affidavit before a court acknowledging Muslim ownership of the property. He also stated that the committee possesses a 1980 map showing the mosque's existence at the site before the development of the present railway infrastructure.

The committee has indicated that it will challenge the notice in court, potentially setting the stage for a legal dispute over the ownership and status of the land.

With the June 20 deadline fast approaching, attention is now turning to whether the issue will be resolved through administrative discussions or judicial intervention. The dispute is likely to raise broader questions about balancing major infrastructure projects with claims involving long-standing religious structures.

Kashi Railway Station is one of the key rail gateways to Varanasi, a city that attracts millions of pilgrims and tourists annually. The station redevelopment project aims to improve passenger amenities, reduce congestion and strengthen transport infrastructure in the historic city.