MP draws up mega Simhastha plan, seeks Rs20k cr central aid

Bhopal: In line with its vision of turning the big-ticket Simhastha 2028 into a global spectacle like the Mahakumbh, Madhya Pradesh govt has drawn up a mega Rs 30,430-crore plan for the grand convergence of devotees from across the world.The plan features 275 projects including roads, river rejuvenation, civic services, tourism and security, top sources told TOI, adding that the state has already sought Rs 20,000 crore in special assistance from the Centre while also pushing for the event to be declared an event of national importance. Significantly, the plan follows a three-day visit by CM Mohan Yadav to Varanasi to draw lessons on crowd control and management as well as general planning for events of the scale of the Mahakumbh while also exploring cooperation in spiritual tourism.Drawing a direct parallel with the Centre's Rs 2,100 crore support to the 2025 Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, along with additional funding for national infrastructure, the state govt has argued that Simhastha 2028, given its scale and global visibility, warrants similar or even higher financial backing, sources said.The Simhastha, set to be hosted by the state's spiritual capital and the CM's native, Ujjain, from March 27 to May 27, next year, will witness a global confluence of seers and devotees for three ‘shahi snans' (ceremonial holy dips) on April 9, April 14 and April 23, along with seven other key bathing dates. The state has set sights on attracting 30 to 35 crore devotees for the event, a sharp rise from about 8 crore pilgrims recorded during the last edition in 2016.As per the proposal, projects worth Rs 25,000 crore have already been approved, while those for another Rs 3,000 crore are under consideration. A separate corpus of about Rs 2,000 crore has been earmarked for temporary arrangements, logistics and security during the two-month-long pilgrimage.Mobility lies at the core of the plan, with Rs 17,259 crore allocated for 90 road projects. These include major greenfield corridors such as Indore–Ujjain and Ujjain–Jaora highways, widening of key routes to four and six lanes, development of a dedicated Simhasth bypass, and extensive last-mile connectivity linking ghats, temples, transit hubs and entry points to the city.To ease congestion, 31 bridges and road overbridges worth Rs 1,793 crore have been planned, including railway overbridges, elevated stretches and river bridges across Kshipra River. Key projects such as the Freeganj bridge are expected to remove long-standing traffic bottlenecks within the city, easing the passage of pilgrims to the holy site.Ensuring adequate and clean water flow in the Kshipra is also a key focus for the host state, with Rs 2,698 crore earmarked for the rejuvenation of the river and development of ghats. The Rs 919-crore Kahn closed-duct diversion project will channel polluted water through a 30-km canal and tunnel system, preventing contamination of the river, while the Rs 614 crore Sewarkhedi–Silarkhedi project will store and regulate 51 million cubic metres of water to maintain steady flow throughout the year.Ghat infrastructure is being expanded significantly, with 29.21 km of new ghats being developed at a cost of Rs 778 crore and a further 9 km of existing ghats being upgraded. These are expected to handle up to 2.5 crore pilgrims within 24 hours during peak bathing days.Proposed urban infrastructure upgrades include Rs 2,451 crore for water supply, sewerage and solid waste management. The drinking water project, which alone costs Rs 1,113.67 crore, includes a 250 MLD treatment plant, more than 700 km of pipeline network and 17 overhead tanks to ensure uninterrupted supply during the mela and for long-term city needs.The proposal also includes Rs 3,708 crore worth of building projects, covering police housing, guest facilities, administrative complexes and tourism infrastructure. Major components include a Rs 592 crore medical college with a 500-bed hospital, a Rs 284 crore Unity Mall, and heritage conservation works aimed at enhancing Ujjain's religious and cultural appeal.Power infrastructure projects worth Rs 373 crore will strengthen supply through new substations and underground cabling, while Rs 1,139 crore has been allocated for surveillance and IT systems, including an Integrated Command and Control Centre for real-time monitoring of crowds, traffic and emergencies.Temporary works worth Rs 1,000 crore will focus on sanitation, tent cities, accommodation and essential services within the mela area, reflecting the scale of arrangements required for one of the world's largest spiritual gatherings.The plan also ties Simhastha preparations to long-term economic and tourism development, with proposed circuits linking Ujjain to Omkareshwar, Maheshwar and Mandu. Among other projects in the pipeline is the expansion of hospitality infrastructure and development of an IT park to diversify the local economy beyond pilgrimage-driven activity.Officials said groundwork has already begun across sectors, but timely approval of central assistance will be critical to completing projects well before 2028 and ensure smooth management of what is expected to be one of the largest spiritual confluences across the globe.