Ujjain Simhastha 2028
Ujjain Simhastha 2028: What Has Been Announced and Built
Madhya Pradesh is building new Shipra ghats, river works, roads, bridges and rail links for the Simhastha, and the Chief Minister has set Diwali 2027 as the deadline for all of them. This tracker lists each work with the latest thing the government has said about it, when it said it, and the source.
The Simhastha is planned for 27 March to 27 May 2028, and no bathing date has been announced. For the story behind the biggest projects, read Ujjain Simhastha 2028: the works under way and what they mean.
How to read this tracker
We use only the Government of Madhya Pradesh, the Government of India, Indian Railways and news reports that quote officials. A row changes only when a newer official word appears. Seen a newer official notice? Tell us through contact and corrections.
The works tracker
Every work in one place. Pick a status or a group of works. Each card gives the work, who announced or approved it, how far it has got, the date of the latest official word and the source. Budgets are the government’s own figures in crore of rupees.
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons- 6 Announced
- 10 Approved
- 14 Under way
- 5 Completed
- River and ghatsNew Shipra ghats
about 29 km on both banks, from the Shani Temple to the Nagda bypass, Rs 778 crore. By 20 June 2026, 7 km of new ghats and 18.20 km of retaining walls were finished. See our guide to the Ujjain ghats.
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 20 June 2026Who and source
- Who
- State government; foundation stone laid on 31 May 2025. Progress given at a review with Union Minister Manohar Lal
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 20 June 2026; MP Jansampark, 31 May 2025
- River and ghatsUpgrading the older ghats
about 7.8 km of existing permanent ghats, Rs 120 crore (approved in September 2025 as nearly 9 km at Rs 122 crore)
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 27 June 2026Who and source
- Who
- Cabinet Committee on Simhastha 2028; figures repeated by the Chief Minister
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 27 June 2026; MP Jansampark, 2 September 2025
- River and ghatsBarrages on the Shipra
21 barrages, Rs 85 crore, launched with the new ghats. We found no later progress figure.
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 31 May 2025Who and source
- Who
- State government; foundation stone laid on 31 May 2025
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 31 May 2025
- River and ghatsKanh diversion closed duct
a 30.15 km duct and tunnel to carry the Kanh river's water around the city and release it below the Gambhir Dam, Rs 919.94 crore, due by September 2027. In June 2026 the head regulator was finished and 8.15 km of the 12 km tunnel had been dug.
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 20 June 2026Who and source
- Who
- State cabinet (revised approval, September 2024)
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 20 June 2026; MP Jansampark, 24 September 2024
- River and ghatsSevarkhedi-Silarkhedi project
stores monsoon water in the Silarkhedi reservoir and releases it into the Shipra so that the river keeps flowing, Rs 614.53 crore
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 19 June 2026Who and source
- Who
- State government (administrative approval)
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 19 June 2026; MP Jansampark, 13 January 2025
- River and ghatsHariyakhedi water supply scheme
new intake wells and treatment plants, 17 overhead tanks and a 708 km pipeline network for the city, Rs 1,133.67 crore, to take 24 months
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 19 June 2026Who and source
- Who
- Chief Minister performed the bhoomi pujan on 11 February 2026
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 19 June 2026; MP Jansampark, 11 February 2026
- Roads and bridgesNew and wider bridges
22 new bridges and the widening of existing ones, 17 over the river and 5 over railway lines, Rs 853.46 crore
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 27 June 2026Who and source
- Who
- Chief Minister, at a Simhastha workshop in Ujjain
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 27 June 2026
- Roads and bridgesFootbridge for pilgrims
a separate bridge over the Shipra for people on foot
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 7 April 2026Who and source
- Who
- Chief Minister, at the ministerial committee on Simhastha
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 7 April 2026
- Roads and bridgesHari Phatak to Chandukhedi road
14.42 km of four-lane and six-lane road via Lalpur, Mullapura and Shankaracharya Square, with an extra bridge over the Shipra and a two-lane rail overbridge
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 27 September 2026Who and source
- Who
- Public Works Department, under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund; inspected by the Chief Minister
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 27 September 2026
- Roads and bridgesSecond Freeganj bridge
a new bridge beside the existing Freeganj bridge
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 10 July 2026Who and source
- Who
- Bridge construction department; inspected by the Chief Minister
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 10 July 2026
- Roads and bridgesElevated corridor
5.30 km, Rs 945.20 crore, also to serve as another route to the Mahakal Temple
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 19 August 2026Who and source
- Who
- Chief Minister performed the bhoomi poojan
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 19 August 2026
- Roads and bridgesWidening city roads
stretches such as Gudri Square to Harsiddhi Pal and Mahakal Square to Kamri Marg were approved in April 2026. By 20 August 2026, 310 m of the 410 m Kanthal Square to Chhatri Square stretch had a new concrete road. In September the Chief Minister inspected widening from Neelganga.
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 20 September 2026Who and source
- Who
- Ministerial committee on Simhastha; inspections by the Chief Minister
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 20 September 2026; MP Jansampark, 20 August 2026; MP Jansampark, 7 April 2026
- Roads and bridgesMR-22 ghat road
a 12 km six-lane road from the Simhastha Bypass along the west bank of the Shipra, linking the ghats and temples, Rs 194 crore
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 2 September 2025Who and source
- Who
- Cabinet Committee on Simhastha 2028
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 2 September 2025
- Roads and bridgesIndore-Ujjain six-lane highway
Rs 1,692 crore. The Chief Minister said 80% of the work was done.
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 19 August 2026Who and source
- Who
- Chief Minister
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 19 August 2026; MP Jansampark, 19 June 2026
- Roads and bridgesIndore-Ujjain greenfield road
about 48 km of new four-lane road, Rs 2,935 crore, from the Pitra Parvat area of Indore to the Simhastha Bypass near Chintaman Ganesh
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 20 June 2026Who and source
- Who
- Chief Minister and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar broke ground at Chandrawatiganj
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 20 June 2026
- Roads and bridgesUjjain-Jaora greenfield road
98.73 km of four-lane road, Rs 5,017 crore, linking Ujjain to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, target December 2027
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 10 July 2026Who and source
- Who
- Chief Minister performed the bhoomi poojan at Nagda
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 10 July 2026
- Roads and bridgesOther four-lane roads
Ujjain-Jhalawar (Rs 2,523 crore) and Ujjain-Maksi (Rs 351 crore)
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 19 June 2026Who and source
- Who
- State officials, at a review chaired by Union Minister Manohar Lal
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 19 June 2026
- Mahakal LokShri Mahakal Lok, phase 1
the Mahakal Path with its 108 pillars and the plaza with its lotus pond, Rs 351 crore. Read more on our Mahakaleshwar page.
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 11 October 2022Who and source
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated it
- Source
- PIB, 11 October 2022; MP Jansampark (Hindi), 5 October 2023
- Mahakal LokShri Mahakal Lok, phase 2
works worth Rs 242.35 crore, including Shikhar Darshan and Koti Teerth, a covered underground path to Ganesh Mandapam, the Neelkanth Van and the temple Annakshetra. The state said the temple precinct grew from 2.87 to 47 hectares.
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 5 October 2023Who and source
- Who
- Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan dedicated it
- Source
- MP Jansampark (Hindi), 5 October 2023
- Rail, buses and airUjjain rail bypass
an 8.60 km line from Nai Khedi to Chintaman Ganesh, Rs 189.04 crore, so that trains no longer have to reverse at Ujjain
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 27 April 2026Who and source
- Who
- Indian Railways approved it in February 2026; the Ministry of Railways notified it as a special railway project
- Source
- Gazette of India, 27 April 2026; MP Jansampark, 13 February 2026
- Rail, buses and airSeven stations upgraded
Ujjain, Nai Khedi, Chintaman, Panwasa, Mohanpura, Pingleshwar and Vikram Nagar. For trains today, see how to reach Ujjain.
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 27 June 2026Who and source
- Who
- Chief Minister, at a Simhastha workshop in Ujjain
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 27 June 2026
- Rail, buses and airFatehabad line
the Chief Minister said trains bound for Nagda no longer need to pass through Ujjain now that the Fatehabad track is in use
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 27 June 2026Who and source
- Who
- Chief Minister
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 27 June 2026
- Rail, buses and airRopeway from Ujjain station to the Mahakal Temple
1.76 km, Rs 199 crore, 48 cabins. We found no official progress report after December 2024.
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 1 December 2024Who and source
- Who
- Divisional Commissioner and Collector, in a presentation to Union Minister J.P. Nadda
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 1 December 2024
- Rail, buses and airDewas Gate transit hub
a multimodal hub at the Dewas Gate bus stand with a skywalk to Ujjain railway station
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 7 April 2026Who and source
- Who
- Ministerial committee on Simhastha
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 7 April 2026
- Rail, buses and airCity buses and Ujjain Darshan
PM e-Bus services, 12 city routes under the Sugam Parivahan service (one of them Dewas Gate to Nanakheda), and a 27 km electric Ujjain Darshan circuit from Meghdoot Van parking past the main temples, the bus stand and the railway station
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 27 September 2026Who and source
- Who
- Chief Minister launched the services at Mahakal Lok
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 27 September 2026
- Rail, buses and airUjjain airport at Datana-Matana
the airstrip is to become an airport under the RCS-UDAN scheme, starting with a 1,800 m runway. The state has signed an MoU with the Airports Authority of India and transferred about 120 acres; the environmental study was at the terms-of-reference stage in June 2026. Target: before the Simhastha.
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 14 September 2026Who and source
- Who
- State government and the Airports Authority of India
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 14 September 2026; MoEFCC committee minutes, June 2026
- Mela area and deadlinesDeadline for all works
Diwali 2027. An earlier direction, in September 2025, said December 2027.
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 7 April 2026Who and source
- Who
- Chief Minister
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 7 April 2026; MP Jansampark, 2 September 2025
- Mela area and deadlinesThe whole programme
148 projects worth over Rs 16,910 crore under review in Ujjain, Omkareshwar and seven other districts; 17 new projects worth Rs 491.66 crore approved that day
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 9 June 2026Who and source
- Who
- Cabinet Committee on Simhastha 2028
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 9 June 2026
- Mela area and deadlinesSimhastha Mela Authority
Jagdish Agrawal took charge as chairman. The Ujjain Divisional Commissioner, Ashish Singh, is the Simhastha Mela Officer.
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 25 August 2026Who and source
- Who
- State government
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 25 August 2026; MP Jansampark, 14 May 2026
- Mela area and deadlinesMela office and command centre
a command and control centre, approved at Rs 139.14 crore, to watch the city and the mela area through CCTV, drones and data, housed in a new Simhastha Mela office building (Rs 29.84 crore)
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 27 June 2026Who and source
- Who
- Ministerial committee on Simhastha; the building's bhoomi pujan was set for 17 March 2026
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 27 June 2026; MP Jansampark, 7 April 2026; MP Jansampark, 16 March 2026
- Mela area and deadlinesApproach roads to the ghats
officials marked 18 places for approach roads to the new ghats up to the Unhel Road bridge, and 140 places for connecting routes along 36 km of riverbank
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 14 May 2026Who and source
- Who
- Simhastha Mela Officer and Ujjain Collector, on inspections on foot
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 14 May 2026
- Mela area and deadlinesParking sectors
30 parking sectors over more than 3,000 hectares, with more parking in neighbouring districts
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 19 June 2026Who and source
- Who
- State officials, at a review chaired by Union Minister Manohar Lal
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 19 June 2026
- Mela area and deadlinesPower for the city and mela area
new substations at Triveni Vihar, Hasampura, Valmiki Dham, Dudhtalai, Chardham and Nanakheda; about Rs 994 crore provided across schemes
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 19 June 2026Who and source
- Who
- Energy Department, at a review chaired by Union Minister Manohar Lal
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 19 June 2026
- Mela area and deadlinesTent city
a tent city on the lines of the Rann Utsav in Kutch. No site, operator or booking channel has been named.
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 2 February 2026Who and source
- Who
- Chief Minister
- Source
- MP Jansampark, 2 February 2026
- Mela area and deadlinesSimhastha dates window
27 March to 27 May 2028. No bathing date has been announced; see our dates page.
- Announced
- Approved
- Under way
- Completed
Latest official word 27 June 2026Who and source
- Who
- Chief Minister, first at a planning meeting in March 2024 and again in June 2026, as reported
- Source
- Deccan Chronicle, 27 June 2026; Free Press Journal, 6 March 2024
Where the Simhastha happens
Ram Ghat on the Shipra, Mahakaleshwar Temple and where trains and buses arrive.
- 1Mahakaleshwar TempleTemple
- 2Ram GhatGhat · Main ghat
- 3Kal Bhairav TempleTemple
- 4Chintaman Ganesh TempleTemple
- 5Ujjain Junction railway stationRailway
- 6Dewas Gate bus standBus
- 7Nanakheda bus standBus
A guide to where places are, not a route plan. During the mela, roads and ghats open and close by the official plan; follow police and mela directions.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Some temple locations from Wikidata (CC0). openstreetmap.org/copyright
Questions people ask
Does Ujjain have an airport for the Simhastha?
Not yet. The state is turning the Datana-Matana airstrip into an airport with a 1,800 m runway and aims to finish it before the Simhastha. For now the nearest airport is Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport in Indore; see how to reach Ujjain.
Sources
33 sources · checked 18 Oct 2026
- CM Dr. Yadav and Union Minister Manohar Lal Review Ghat Construction Works for Simhastha 2028 · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- Chief Minister Dr. Yadav lays the foundation for the construction of 29 km of Shipra Ghat and 21 barrages for Rs 864 crore · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- Preparations for Grand Simhastha Continue at Pace: CM Dr. Yadav · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- Complete All Simhastha Works by Dec 2027: CM Dr. Yadav · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- Revised administrative approval of Rs 919 crore 94 lakh for 'Kanh Diversion Close Duct Project' for organizing Simhastha-2028 · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- Monitoring Systems Must be Further Strengthened to Ensure Quality of Works: Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- Kshipra river will be clean and perennial: Dr. Yadav · Directorate of Public Relations, Government of Madhya Pradesh (mpinfo.org) ·
- Ujjain's Management for Simhastha will Enhance Prestige of Entire State: CM Dr. Yadav · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- All Simhastha 2028 Works to Be Completed by Diwali 2027: CM Dr. Yadav · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- CM Dr. Yadav Inspects Road Construction by Public Works Department · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- Chief Minister Dr. Yadav Tours Ujjain on Two-Wheeler and on Foot · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- Ujjain is Being Prepared for Grand, Divine, Extraordinary and Disaster-Free Simhastha: CM Dr. Yadav · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- CM Dr. Yadav Inspects Simhastha-2028 Development Works on Foot · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- CM Dr. Yadav Inspects Construction Works in Ujjain · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- Four-Lane Greenfield Corridor to Emerge as New Catalyst for Development of Ujjain-Sanwer-Indore Region: CM Dr. Yadav · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- Ujjain-Jaora Greenfield Four-Lane Corridor to Open a New Gateway to Malwa's Prosperity: Chief Minister Dr. Yadav · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- PM dedicates Phase I of the Mahakal Lok Project to the nation at Shri Mahakal Lok in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh · Press Information Bureau / Prime Minister's Office, Government of India ·
- Sanatan sanskriti ka na adi hai na ant: Mukhyamantri Shri Chouhan (CM dedicates the second phase of Shri Mahakal Mahalok) · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- Gazette of India notification S.O. 2116(E): Special Railway Project, New BG Ujjain Bypass Line connecting Nai Khedi to Chintaman Ganesh · Ministry of Railways, Government of India (Gazette of India) ·
- CM Dr. Yadav Expresses Gratitude to Railway Minister Shri Vaishnav for Approval of Ujjain Bypass Railway Line Project · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- Comprehensive Action Plan for Simhastha-2028 Developed with Strategic Vision and Efficient Management: Union Minister Shri Nadda · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- CM Dr. Yadav Launches PM e-Bus and Ujjain Darshan from Mahakal Lok · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- Ujjain's Development Gets New Dimension with Expanded Air Connectivity · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- Minutes of the 5th meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee (Infra-2), 3 June 2026: Development of Ujjain (Datana) Airport · Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India (PARIVESH) ·
- Simhastha 2028: 17 New Development Projects Approved · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- With Baba Mahakal's Blessings, Simhastha 2028 Will Be Grand and Divine: CM Dr. Yadav · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- Continuous Inspections Underway for Grand and Divine Simhastha-2028 · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- Governor Shri Patel and Chief Minister Dr. Yadav to Gift Development Projects to Ujjain · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- Ujjain to Develop Tent City for Simhastha 2028 on Lines of Rann Utsav: CM Dr. Yadav · Directorate of Public Relations (Jansampark), Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
- MP Simhastha Kumbh 2028: ₹25k Cr Infrastructure Push For 40Cr Devotees, Says CM Yadav · Deccan Chronicle ·
- Works Worth Rs 18,840 Cr For Simhastha-28 Afoot: MP CM Mohan Yadav · Free Press Journal ·
- Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport, Indore · Airports Authority of India ·
- Chief Minister reviews proposed action plan of Simhastha-2028 · The Pioneer (Bhopal edition) ·