“The city may win, but too often its citizens seem to lose” (Glaecer, 2011).
Recently, two prominent food shops in Varanasi were demolished to make way for road development aimed at easing traffic congestion. These weren’t ordinary food stalls, they were iconic establishments, frequently featured in both traditional and social media. Countless reels had been made about them, and many celebrities and influencers had sung their praises. Ever since the rise of social media, these spots had become must-visits for tourists coming to Varanasi.
Personally, I never found their food exceptional, but somehow, average taste had come to represent the “authentic flavor” of Varanasi. Their demolition caught widespread attention online and even made the headlines in local newspapers. While some criticized the government for eroding the city’s cultural identity in the name of development, others defended the decision, viewing it as a necessary step forward.
Despite the outcry, I doubt the demolition had any real negative impact on their business. In fact, they resumed operations at a new nearby location the very next day, possibly with better footfall, thanks to the publicity. I suspect they might have even received some compensation from the authorities, though I can’t confirm that.
But not all businesses are as fortunate.
Let me share a small story. Near my home, there was a tiny shop that sold sports goods, mostly catering to students from the nearby university. It did well for years until online shopping slowly ate into its customer base. From hundreds of buyers a day, the shop began seeing only one or two, sometimes none at all. The owner was distraught and desperate for a solution.
He soon noticed a gap: many students and workers lived in the area, but there was no affordable eatery nearby. He decided to pivot. Setting up a simple desk outside his shop, he began selling parathas in the evenings. To his surprise, the venture took off almost instantly. A crowd began to gather daily, and long queues formed for his delicious and cheap aloo parathas. He had found the perfect combination of good quality, low price, and a strategic location.
Within weeks, he hired three staff members. His only job was to take payments and hand out tokens. The rest was handled by his new team. What was once a dying sports goods store had transformed into a thriving food business, even creating jobs in the process.
But the success didn’t last long.
The city began work on an underground wiring project, at least that’s what I heard. Large excavators moved in, tearing up both sides of the road. Dust filled the air, heavy machines clogged the path, and chaos reigned. Parking became impossible, and customers had to risk navigating a 3-foot-wide, 6-foot-deep trench just to reach the shop. Even though the owner built a small ramp to help them cross, it didn’t work. Customers started staying away.
The construction went on for so long that the owner was eventually forced to shut down. The shop wasn’t physically destroyed, but the disruption led to its demise. The city didn’t directly harm the store, yet the result was the same; it vanished.
And this isn’t an isolated incident. Many small businesses suffer similar fates during infrastructure projects. Large businesses might absorb short-term losses and bounce back, but small shops often can’t survive the disruption. They either shut down permanently or face crippling losses.
These situations create a moral dilemma for me. On one hand, development is essential. Projects like underground wiring will, in the long run, benefit the city and its people. On the other hand, what about the small business owners? What about the poor city dwellers who bear the brunt of such progress?
Are these “small sacrifices” acceptable for the greater good? Perhaps. But for those affected, these aren’t just minor inconveniences. They are life-altering setbacks. They can stall personal growth and even hinder the future of entire families.
Who should be held accountable? Is there any cost-benefit analysis that takes into account human impact? Should we consider conducting a Human Impact Assessment before launching such projects?
These questions continue to haunt me every time I witness another story like this unfold.
