Ujjain begins 14-crore road widening project ahead of Simhastha Mahakumbh festival

Ujjain municipal corporation has launched the measurement and marking work for a major road widening project that will expand the stretch from Gudri Chauraha to Harsiddhi Paal into a 15-meter-wide thoroughfare, a development aimed at facilitating the upcoming Simhastha Mahakumbh festival and the grand processions of Baba Mahakal. The proposed project, which will cost approximately 14 crore rupees sanctioned by the state government, began on the ground from Tuesday when the corporation team reached the site to mark the proposed road boundary and identify affected structures.

The road widening work is being carried out under the guidance of Mayor Mukesh Tatwal and Corporation President Kalavati Yadav, following the directives of Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav. The municipal corporation is continuously undertaking various works to develop key routes in the city and streamline traffic arrangements in view of the preparations for the Simhastha Mahapurb. The approximately 570-meter-long route from Gudri Chauraha via Pandariba to Harsiddhi Paal is now set to be widened to 15 meters to meet these requirements.

This route holds special significance as it ranks among the city's most important and busiest thoroughfares. It serves as the principal route for Baba Mahakal's procession as well as the Peshwai procession that will be taken out during the Simhastha Mahapurb. Beyond its religious importance, the road also functions as a vital link for devotees and common citizens traveling to and from the Ramghat and Harsiddhi temple areas. Anticipating the surge in devotee numbers and increased traffic pressure during Simhastha, authorities deemed it essential to widen the road to 15 meters to handle the anticipated load.

The proposed road widening will affect a total of 136 buildings. The municipal corporation has initiated the process in accordance with established regulations. From Tuesday onwards, the measurement of the route and marking of the road boundary commenced. Through this exercise, the corporation is determining the proposed road limits while simultaneously identifying the buildings that will be impacted by the widening work.

Municipal Commissioner Abhilash Mishra issued directions for the survey work, following which Building Inspector Ms Saumya Chaturvedi along with the corporation team visited the site and carried out the measurement of the route and marking on the affected buildings. The team conducted an on-site inspection and is collecting necessary information in line with the proposed road boundary. Once the measurement and survey work is completed, further proceedings will be undertaken as per regulations.

The primary objective of the road widening project is to make traffic movement in the area smooth and organized, enhance the capacity of the route, and provide better transit arrangements for the large number of devotees expected during the Simhastha Mahapurb. With the development and streamlining of the road, citizens and devotees will experience improved convenience in commuting while the traffic system in the area will also be upgraded substantially.

The municipal corporation is moving forward with priority on the development and widening of key routes in the city keeping the Simhastha Mahapurb in focus. The state government has allocated approximately 14 crore rupees for this particular road development work, underscoring the significance attached to infrastructure readiness ahead of the mega religious congregation. The widening from Gudri Chauraha through Pandariba to Harsiddhi Paal represents a crucial segment in the overall preparations, given its role as a lifeline for devotees heading to important pilgrimage points and its designation as the ceremonial route for sacred processions.