Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that preparations are in full swing under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to organise a grand, divine, extraordinary, attractive and disaster-free Simhastha 2028 in Ujjain. Ujjain has today received a new elevated corridor costing ₹945.20 crore. The 5.30-km-long corridor will provide devotees with convenient connectivity during Simhastha 2028. He said that Simhastha will be the world’s largest religious tourism festival. The Chief Minister also appreciated the district administration for making effective arrangements for crowd management during Nag Panchami last Monday. He said that the entire Ujjain administration deserves appreciation for the successful arrangements.
CM Dr. Yadav was addressing a training programme for Home Guards, Aapda Mitras and Civil Defence Volunteers at Kalidas Academy in Ujjain on Wednesday. He inaugurated the programme by lighting the ceremonial lamp and performed the Bhoomi Poojan for the new elevated corridor with a single click.
CM Dr. Yadav recalled, addressing the trainees, that he had been a member of the Scouts and Guides during the 1980 Simhastha in Ujjain. Several precautionary measures were adopted during Simhastha 2016, including improving facilities at Ramghat and recognising the need for a bypass in Ujjain. He said the development of Mahakal Lok at Ujjain’s Mahakal Temple has boosted religious tourism and created greater employment opportunities for local people. The government is also moving ahead with plans for an Indore-Ujjain Metropolitan Region. Modern technology is being incorporated into major infrastructure projects, including multi-level elevated corridors in Ujjain and Indore. The new corridor will also serve as an alternative route to the Mahakal Temple. Seven bridges are being constructed over railway lines and rivers in Ujjain as required.
80% of Indore-Ujjain Six-Lane Highway Work Completed
CM Dr. Yadav said 80% of the work on the Indore-Ujjain six-lane highway has been completed. The government is committed to making all necessary arrangements for devotees visiting Mahakal for darshan. He said effective arrangements would be made for devotees in coordination with Home Guards, police and the district administration. Home Guards, Aapda Mitras and Civil Defence Volunteers are being provided continuous training. The Chief Minister said,“These personnel shoulder the responsibility of protecting people’s lives and property. They are our crisis responders and the true heroes and heroines of society.”
35-Km Ghats to be Available During Simhastha 2028
CM Dr. Yadav said that while Simhastha 2016 had around seven kilometres of ghats,35kilometres of ghats along the Shipra River will be available for devotees during the upcoming Simhastha. He said 300 snake rescuers are also being trained in Ujjain. It is a subject of research why snake populations are found in greater numbers around all Jyotirlingas. A snake park is therefore being developed in Ujjain and will be inaugurated soon. The Chief Minister said the government aims to have at least one trained snake rescuer at every panchayat and police station level across the state. They will rescue snakes from residential areas and release them safely into forests. He said, “Our endeavour is to ensure the safety of both humans and snakes”.
CM Dr. Yadav also extended advance greetings and best wishes to the people of Madhya Pradesh on the upcoming festivals, including Raksha Bandhan, Balram Jayanti and Janmashtami.
Ujjain MP Shri Anil Firoziya said Home Guard personnel are life-savers who rescue people from deep waters during holy bathing. He said an estimated 30 crore devotees and visitors are expected to arrive in Ujjain during Simhastha 2028. Aapda Mitras and Home Guard personnel will also shoulder the responsibility of managing the city’s increased traffic. He said the foundation stone for the new elevated corridor had been laid with the support of the Central and State governments, describing it as another major gift to the people of Ujjain from CM Dr. Yadav.
MLA Shri Anil Jain Kaluheda said the new elevated corridor would provide a highly convenient route for the people of Ujjain and greatly benefit devotees visiting Mahakal. He said public service and development are the government’s duty, adding that disaster management would be an important component of the grand Simhastha preparations.
Kumari Hemlata Suryavanshi, who has undergone disaster management training from the Central Government, shared her experiences. She said there is no greater virtue than saving a person’s life. Hemlata was also invited to the At Home reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Independence Day this year.
Ujjain District Commandant, Home Guards, Shri Santosh Kumar Singh Jat said 1,100 Aapda Mitras have already been registered in Ujjain, with a target of training 10,000 Aapda Mitras. He said Civil Defence Volunteers play an important role in community-based disaster management and had also contributed during Simhastha 2016. He said they would play a crucial role during the upcoming Simhastha. Master trainers from the Home Guards and SDRF are providing training in boat handling and dealing with underwater disasters. Shri Singh said that all Aapda Mitras, Home Guards and volunteers are fully prepared to contribute to the successful conduct of Simhastha 2028.
Rajya Sabha Member Mahant Umesh Nath Maharaj, Simhastha Mela Authority Chairman Shri Jagdish Agrawal, Shri Ravi Solanki, Shri Sanjay Agrawal, Shri Rakesh Pandya, Shri Rajendra Bharti and several other public representatives and a large number of local residents were present at the programm
