Three Varanasi parks to get themed makeovers as Nagar Nigam floats Rs 4.92 crore tenders

VARANASI: The Varanasi Municipal Corporation has invited tenders worth about Rs 4.92 crore to redevelop three well-known city parks, Beniyabagh, Town Hall and Machhodari, each around a separate theme.

All three are prominent public spaces in the city. The plan is to give them a fresh look and turn them into places for recreation and sightseeing, so that residents, families and visiting pilgrims get new open spaces to spend time in.

What is planned: Beniyabagh park is to be developed on a seven wonders theme, with replicas of the seven wonders of the world such as the Great Wall of China, at an estimated cost of about Rs 1.85 crore. Its tender was issued on 2 November. Town Hall park is to carry a theme based on the 12 jyotirlingas, with a budget of Rs 1.46 crore. Machhodari park is to follow an Incredible India theme showcasing the country's heritage, at a cost of about Rs 1.60 crore.

Timeline: A pre-bid meeting for the three works was scheduled for 7 November. Firms can submit bids until 16 November, and the technical bids are to be opened on 17 November. The exact structures, facilities and design for each park will be fixed by the technical terms of the tenders and the work plan of the agency that is selected. No completion date has been announced yet.

Details are from Amar Ujala and Janwarta reports on the Varanasi Municipal Corporation's park tenders.