What the CM inspected on August 20

CM Yadav reviewed the ongoing widening of the Rajsi Sawari Marg — the ceremonial route used by Lord Mahakal's Shahi Sawari procession. He spoke with engineers from the construction agency, asked for details of the work plan, and separately inspected the under-construction Collector's Office building in the city.

The visit follows a Collector-level inspection of the same corridor just two days earlier, on August 18, by Ujjain Collector Raushan Kumar Singh.

What's the actual road work, and how far along is it?

The stretch from Kanthal Square to Chhatri Chowk — 410 metres in total — is being widened to 15 metres. Of that, PCC (Plain Cement Concrete) road construction is already complete on roughly 310 metres, or about 75% of the route.

At Kanthal Square, a 500-square-metre area will be paved with decorative paver blocks. The ancient Shri Sati Mata Gate on the route will also be developed and beautified as part of the project.

Why pilgrims should care about this road right now

The Rajsi Sawari Marg is the route Lord Mahakal's Shahi Sawari — the grand royal procession — takes through Ujjain during the Shravan and Bhadav months. The next Shahi Sawari is September 7, 2026, and the road is being readied before that date.

For Simhastha 2028, this same corridor will carry a far heavier volume of pilgrims. CM Yadav said 30 to 40 crore visitors are expected across the event. Getting a 15-metre road finished and beautified before the mela begins is a practical necessity, not a cosmetic exercise.

The CM also visited Shri Chinta Haran Ganesh Temple near Kanthal Square to offer prayers.

Residents gave up parts of their homes and shops — voluntarily

Perhaps the most unusual part of Thursday's inspection: the CM publicly thanked local residents and traders who voluntarily demolished portions of their own homes and commercial establishments to free up space for the widening.

"People belonging to all religions have extended their cooperation," CM Yadav said. "I am grateful to them and hope that this will help enhance the glory of our city."

This kind of community buy-in has sped the project along considerably. The Ujjain Municipal Corporation Council had earlier cleared compensation proposals for property owners affected by road widening across several corridors in the city, but many residents on this stretch chose to cooperate without waiting for formal compensation proceedings.

The new Collector's Office: Rs. 134.97 crore and counting

Away from the road inspection, CM Yadav reviewed progress on the new administrative complex coming up in Ujjain at a cost of Rs. 134.97 crore. Collector Raushan Kumar Singh briefed him on the construction timeline and upcoming tasks. The CM directed officials to ensure the building is completed on schedule and equipped with the necessary administrative facilities.

Where does this fit in Ujjain's larger Simhastha 2028 plan?

The Rajsi Sawari Marg is one of dozens of road corridors being widened across Ujjain under Simhastha 2028 preparations. The MP government has set an overall project completion deadline of Diwali 2027 — six months before the mela opens — so that any last-minute issues can be fixed without rush.

Infrastructure spending figures across different planning stages range from roughly Rs. 2,900 crore (ministerial committee approvals) to larger estimates cited by other official sources. The government has directed third-party audits to ensure quality and financial transparency.

Summary: key takeaways

  • What happened: CM Mohan Yadav inspected the Rajsi Sawari Marg widening in Ujjain on August 20, 2026.
  • The road: 410-metre stretch from Kanthal Square to Chhatri Chowk, being widened to 15 metres. About 310 metres of PCC road is done.
  • Beautification: 500-sq-metre paver block area at Kanthal Square; Shri Sati Mata Gate to be restored and beautified.
  • Community cooperation: Residents and traders voluntarily removed encroachments to speed the work. CM publicly thanked them.
  • Also inspected: New Collector's Office building (Rs. 134.97 crore) in Ujjain.
  • Next milestone: Road to be ready before the Shahi Sawari on September 7, 2026.
  • Simhastha 2028 context: CM expects 30–40 crore pilgrims. Government's project completion deadline is Diwali 2027.