Ujjain, Aug 19 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh is stepping up preparations for Simhastha 2028 in Ujjain, with the state government focusing on pilgrim safety, improved connectivity and disaster management for the mega religious gathering, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Wednesday.
Addressing a training programme for Home Guards, Aapda Mitras and Civil Defence volunteers at Kalidas Academy in Ujjain, Yadav said preparations were underway to organise a grand and disaster-free Simhastha under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Preparations are proceeding in full swing to organise a grand, divine, extraordinary, captivating and disaster-free Simhastha 2028 in Ujjain,” Yadav said. He said Simhastha would be the largest event for religious tourism and stressed the need for coordinated efforts by the administration, police, Home Guards and disaster-response volunteers to ensure the safety of devotees.
Yadav also performed the bhoomi-pujan for a new 5.30-km elevated corridor costing Rs 945.20 crore. The corridor is expected to ease traffic movement during Simhastha and will also provide an alternative route to the Mahakal Temple.
He said infrastructure development in Ujjain was being accelerated ahead of the event. About 80 per cent of the Indore-Ujjain six-lane highway has been completed, while seven bridges are being constructed over railway lines and rivers in Ujjain.
The Chief Minister said the scale of preparations for Simhastha 2028 would be significantly larger than in 2016. While the ghats along the Shipra River covered around seven kilometres during the 2016 Simhastha, about 35 km of ghats are planned for devotees during the 2028 event.
“Enhanced management measures for devotees will be implemented in coordination with Home Guard personnel, the police and the administration. Continuous training is being provided to Home Guard personnel, Aapda Mitras and Civil Defence volunteers. They bear the responsibility of protecting lives and property and are the true heroes of society,” Yadav said.
The government is also expanding its disaster-response network. Ujjain has registered 1,100 Aapda Mitras so far, with a target of training 10,000 volunteers, district officials said.
Training is being provided in boat handling and underwater rescue operations by master trainers from the Home Guard and State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF). The state is also training 300 snake rescuers in Ujjain.
Officials said the aim was to have trained snake rescuers at the panchayat and police station levels to respond to incidents involving snakes during the event.
Yadav said the development of Mahakal Lok had already boosted religious tourism and created employment opportunities, while plans for an Indore-Ujjain metropolitan region would further strengthen the area’s infrastructure.
–IANS
pd/uk
