MP Police ramps up Simhastha 2028 prep with railway security, crowd management push
Synopsis
Madhya Pradesh Police are not waiting for 2028 — with a high-level railway security meeting in Bhopal and 117 master trainers already in training in Ujjain, the state has launched its most structured early-stage Simhastha preparedness drive yet, signalling a clear shift from reactive to anticipatory policing for one of India's largest religious congregations.
Key Takeaways
DGP Kailash Makwana chaired the State Railway Security Coordination Committee meeting in Bhopal on 29 April 2025 to plan for Simhastha 2028 .
Railway security, crowd management, and passenger safety — especially for women and senior citizens — are central to the strategy.
A 21-day specialised training programme began in Ujjain on 22 April , training 117 officers as master trainers.
Modules cover crowd management, disaster response, extreme weather handling, and devotee communication.
Officials plan to run additional trains, improve station facilities, and deploy coordinated crowd control measures for the mega event.
Madhya Pradesh Police have launched comprehensive preparations for the Simhastha 2028 pilgrimage in Ujjain, placing railway security and crowd management at the core of their strategy. A high-level meeting of the State Railway Security Coordination Committee was held at the Police Headquarters in Bhopal on Wednesday, 29 April, chaired by Director General of Police (DGP) Kailash Makwana. The meeting signalled an early, structured push to handle the expected surge of millions of pilgrims more than three years ahead of the event.
Railway Network at the Centre of Strategy
DGP Makwana underlined that the state's extensive railway network would play a critical role in managing the influx of devotees during Simhastha. He called for advance planning, continuous monitoring, and robust inter-agency coordination.
Point of View
As has happened with past mega-event planning cycles in India. The focus on master trainers is structurally sound; cascading skills to district-level personnel addresses a chronic last-mile gap. However, railway security coordination in India involves multiple agencies — RPF, GRP, Indian Railways, and state police — whose jurisdictional overlaps have historically caused friction. Whether DGP Makwana's committee can enforce genuine inter-agency accountability, rather than producing well-formatted meeting minutes, will determine if Simhastha 2028 is safer than its predecessors.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Simhastha 2028?
Simhastha is a major Hindu pilgrimage and Kumbh Mela held once every 12 years in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, on the banks of the Kshipra river. It draws tens of millions of pilgrims from across India and abroad, making it one of the country's largest religious congregations.
What steps has MP Police taken for Simhastha 2028 preparations?
Madhya Pradesh Police held a high-level State Railway Security Coordination Committee meeting in Bhopal on 29 April 2025, focusing on railway security, crowd management, and passenger safety. Simultaneously, a 21-day training programme for 117 master trainers is underway in Ujjain since 22 April.
Who is leading the Simhastha 2028 security planning?
Director General of Police Kailash Makwana is leading the effort, having chaired the coordination committee meeting and directed long-term planning and inter-agency cooperation across railway and ground-level security frameworks.
What does the 21-day master trainer programme involve?
The programme, which began on 22 April in Ujjain, trains 117 officers in crowd management, disaster response, extreme weather handling, and communication with devotees. Field visits are included to assess entry-exit routes, parking zones, and crowd flow at key locations.
Why is railway security a priority for Simhastha 2028?
Ujjain's railway network is the primary mode of transport for millions of pilgrims travelling to Simhastha. Officials have flagged the need for additional trains, upgraded station facilities, and coordinated crowd control to prevent congestion and ensure passenger safety during the event.
