Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Ujjain Moves To Double Mahakal Temple Road Width For Simhastha
The road near Mahakal Temple in Ujjain may become twice as wide.
The city wants to widen it from about 12 metres to 24 metres.
Officials say this will help devotees and vehicles move more easily during Simhastha in 2028.
Municipal workers arrived with a JCB machine, police and barricades.
Some shops and restaurants closed when they heard about the planned action.
Some hotel visitors were also asked to leave as a safety measure.
The road project had been delayed by a court case for three years.
Shopkeepers asked for more time to move their goods.
The corporation gave them 24 hours before restarting the removal drive.
Ujjain Municipal Corporation began preparations to remove encroachments on the road from Mahakal Temple to Mahakal Ghati Square.
The nearly 200-metre road is proposed to widen from about 12 metres to 24 metres for Simhastha 2028.
The project had been held up by a legal dispute for three years, but action began after a court stay was lifted.
The Ujjain Master Plan identifies 39 illegal constructions and parts of permanent structures within the widening zone.
After traders requested more time during the festive season, the corporation granted 24 hours and scheduled the drive to resume Thursday.
- Who
- Ujjain Municipal Corporation, local traders, shopkeepers and hotel operators.
- What
- Preparations began to remove encroachments and widen the road between Mahakal Temple and Mahakal Ghati Square from about 12 metres to 24 metres.
- When
- Preparations began on Wednesday; the encroachment removal drive is scheduled to resume Thursday after a 24-hour extension.
- Where
- The nearly 200-metre stretch from Gate No. 1 of Mahakaleshwar Temple to Mahakal Chauraha in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
- Why
- The corporation says widening is needed to improve traffic management and the movement of devotees during Simhastha 2028.
Municipal Authorities
Local Traders And Operators
Need for widening
Municipal Authorities
Ujjain Municipal Corporation says widening the road will support smoother movement of devotees and better traffic management during Simhastha 2028.
Local Traders And Operators
Traders and hotel operators expressed unhappiness about the proposed widening and the effect of action on their establishments.
Notice and timing
Municipal Authorities
The corporation says a technical team marked the stretch for demolition on Tuesday and began action after the court stay was lifted.
Local Traders And Operators
Shopkeepers said the widening markings were made only on Tuesday evening and that they were asked to vacate the next morning.
Request for more time
Municipal Authorities
The corporation granted traders 24 hours to remove their belongings before restarting the drive.
Local Traders And Operators
Local traders requested additional time, citing the festive season.
- Project
- Road widening and encroachment removal
- Road stretch
- Nearly 200 metres, from Mahakal Temple to Mahakal Ghati Square
- Current width
- Approximately 12 metres
- Proposed width
- 24 metres
- Affected structures
- The Ujjain Master Plan identifies 39 illegal constructions and portions of permanent structures in the widening zone.
- Legal status
- The action began after a court stay was lifted following a three-year legal dispute.
- Next action
- The removal drive is scheduled to resume Thursday after traders received 24 hours to remove belongings.