Projects to redevelop 119 public parks, establish food

street hubs at Sarnath and Maidagin, and beautify key heritage corridors

Varanasi, 07 Sept (HS): Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited

(BPCL), a Fortune Global 500 company and a Maharatna PSU, today signed

Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for two major Corporate Social

Responsibility (CSR) projects in Varanasi, with a total approved outlay of Rs. 69.21

crore. The initiatives will focus on enhancing public infrastructure,

developing green spaces, strengthening tourism amenities and preserving the

city’s rich cultural and architectural heritage.

The MoU signing ceremony was held in Varanasi in the

presence of S. Rajalingam, Commissioner, Varanasi Division, and Sanjay Khanna,

Chairman & Managing Director, BPCL and Director (Refineries) (Additional

Charge).

The ceremony was also attended by D. Parthasarthy, Executive

Director (HRS), BPCL; Shri Himanshu Nagpal, Municipal Commissioner, Varanasi

and representative of Varanasi Smart City Limited (VSCL); Purna Borah, Vice

Chairman, Varanasi Development Authority (VDA); Amrendra Tiwari, Director,

Kashi Integrated Parking & Recreational Foundation (KIPRF); Milind M.

Labhane, General Manager (Admin Services, Facilities & CSR), BPCL; Trehan

Achman, Head Retail North, BPCL; Sanjay Yadav, Deputy General Manager (CSR),

BPCL; Saurabh Sharma, Territory Manager Retail, Varanasi; and Agrani Bose,

Chief Manager HR (Chairman’s Office), BPCL.

Under the first MoU, BPCL will provide a CSR contribution of

Rs. 48 crore towards the Redevelopment and Beautification of 119 Public Parks

and Development of Food Street Hubs at Sarnath and Maidagin. The project will

be implemented in partnership with BPCL, Kashi Integrated Parking &

Recreational Foundation (KIPRF) and Varanasi Smart City Limited (VSCL).

The initiative will involve the redevelopment and

beautification of 119 public parks across Varanasi, with a focus on improving

landscaping, walking pathways, seating areas, children’s play equipment, open

gyms, lighting, horticulture, drainage and other civic amenities. The project

will also support the development of modern Food Street Hubs at Sarnath and

Maidagin, featuring organised vending infrastructure, water and sanitation

facilities, CCTV surveillance, solar lighting and improved visitor amenities.

The second MoU, valued at Rs. 21.21 crore, has been signed

with the Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) for the Beautification of

Heritage Streets in Varanasi. The project will cover key heritage locations,

including the corridor from Thatheri Heritage Gali to Kal Bhairav Temple,

façade enhancement works from Godauliya Chauraha to Maidagin Chauraha, and the

redevelopment and beautification of the lane leading to Manikarnikeshwar Temple

at Manikarnika Ghat.

The planned interventions will include heritage-sensitive

streetscape improvements, stone paving, façade treatment, lighting, signage,

street furniture, murals, public art, drainage improvements and

pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. These measures are aimed at improving the

experience of residents, pilgrims and visitors while preserving the distinctive

cultural character of Varanasi’s historic precincts.

Together, the two projects are expected to create a

significant impact across Varanasi by improving public spaces, strengthening

urban amenities, supporting heritage and tourism infrastructure, and creating

better facilities for local communities and vendors. Upon completion, the

upgraded assets will benefit residents, pilgrims and tourists, while

contributing to the long-term development of Varanasi as a leading cultural and

spiritual destination.

Speaking on the occasion, BPCL leadership reiterated the

Company’s commitment to creating sustainable community assets and supporting

transformative development through its CSR initiatives across the country. The

projects reinforce BPCL’s focus on improving quality of life, strengthening

urban infrastructure and contributing to the preservation of India’s cultural

heritage for future generations.

Project Highlights

• Total CSR

Investment: ₹69.21 crore

• 119 public

parks to be redeveloped and beautified across Varanasi

• 2 Food Street

Hubs to be developed at Sarnath and Maidagin

• 3 major

heritage corridors/areas to be upgraded and beautified

• Enhanced

facilities for residents, pilgrims, tourists and local vendors

• Project

Duration: 36 months

Fortune Global 500 Company, Bharat Petroleum is the second

largest Indian Oil Marketing Company and one of the integrated energy companies

in India, engaged in refining of crude oil and marketing of petroleum products,

with presence in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas

industry. The company attained the coveted Maharatna status, joining the club

of companies having greater operational & financial autonomy.

Bharat Petroleum’s Refineries at Mumbai, Kochi and Bina have

a combined refining capacity of around 35.3 MMTPA. Its marketing infrastructure

includes a network of installations, depots, fuel stations, aviation service

stations and LPG distributors. Its distribution network comprises over 25,300+

Fuel Stations, over 1000+ CNG stations, over 6,250+ LPG distributorships, 440+

Lubes distributorships, 81 POL storage locations, 56 LPG Bottling Plants, 81

Aviation Service Stations, 5 Lube blending plants and 6 cross-country

pipelines.

Bharat Petroleum is integrating its strategy, investments,

environmental and social ambitions to move towards a sustainable planet. The

company has Electric vehicle charging stations at 6800+ Fuel Stations. With a

focus on sustainable solutions, the company is developing an ecosystem and a

road-map to become a Net Zero Energy Company by 2040, in Scope 1 and Scope 2

emissions. Bharat Petroleum has been partnering communities by supporting

several initiatives connected primarily in the areas of education, water conservation,

skill development, health, community development, capacity building and

employee volunteering. With ‘Energising Lives’ as its core purpose, Bharat

Petroleum’s vision is to be an admired global energy company leveraging talent,

innovation & technology.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi