Ujjain, May 14 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh government has identified 18 locations for developing new approach roads to ghats along the Shipra River as part of large-scale infrastructure preparations for Simhastha 2028 in Ujjain, officials said on Thursday.

The proposed roads will connect newly constructed ghats spread across a 29-km stretch of the Shipra River, enabling smooth movement of devotees expected to arrive in lakhs during the religious congregation.

The project also includes plans for organised parking facilities and improved pedestrian access to bathing areas, according to an official statement.

“All departments have accelerated the pace of development works related to Simhastha. Chief Minister Yadav is regularly reviewing the preparations, obtaining updates and issuing necessary directions,” the statement said.

Divisional Commissioner and Simhastha Mela Officer Ashish Singh, along with Ujjain Collector Roshan Kumar Singh and officials from multiple departments, are conducting regular inspections across the mela zone to assess infrastructure requirements and the progress of execution.

During a fresh inspection on Thursday, officials began their survey from the bridge near Shri Vikrant Bhairav Temple and covered nearly five kilometres on foot along the riverbank.

“The identified 18 locations for approach roads will connect newly developed ghats up to the Unhel Road Bridge area,” the statement said.

Officials said the objective is to ensure seamless connectivity between parking zones and bathing ghats so that devotees can move conveniently during the mela period.

During the exercise, around 140 additional locations were identified for proposed connecting routes to ghats, and departments were instructed to initiate preparatory work.

The proposed access points include areas near Gau Ghat, behind the Vedhshala, Wakankar Bridge, Jeevan Khedi and Shri Shani Temple, while inspections also covered the ghat area beneath Lal Pul Bridge.

The government said both existing and newly constructed ghats are being integrated into the connectivity plan, with most access routes proposed within a 200-metre radius of the riverbanks.

–IANS

pd/pgh