Varanasi's Streets Turn a New Leaf: CM Grid Roads Bring Tree-Lined Footpaths and Modern Design to the City
Ask any longtime resident about Banaras roads and they will tell you stories of dust and potholes. A recent ground video by local creator Anish Verma shows how quickly that picture is changing — and why a stretch in Sundarpur is being talked about as a model for the whole city. Under the CM Grid scheme, selected roads in Varanasi are being rebuilt end to end rather than simply patched. The Sundarpur stretch features smooth surfacing with clear lane markings, wide paved footpaths, and rows of trees planted along the kerb. A thoughtful detail has caught viewers' attention: metal grates and protective railings around each tree allow rainwater to percolate down to the roots, so greening the street does not come at the cost of the trees themselves. The video also shows the well-kept roads inside the Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) campus, long considered a quiet benchmark for what disciplined urban infrastructure can look like in the city. The change is reaching villages too. Old brick-laid lanes, known locally as kharanja, are steadily being replaced with interlocking concrete blocks or full RCC surfaces, giving rural connectivity a longer-lasting foundation. For a city that welcomes millions of pilgrims and tourists every year, better streets mean easier commutes, safer walking, and a cleaner first impression. Sundarpur's new look suggests the template is ready — the coming years will show how far across Kashi it spreads.
Compiled by HelloBanaras from public sources: