With Simhastha 2028 on the horizon, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav arrived at the sacred precincts of Mahakal Mahalok on Sunday, September 27, 2026, to break ground on and inaugurate 15 development projects worth nearly ₹173 crore — a clear signal that the clock on Ujjain's transformation has started ticking.

Posting on X, the Chief Minister declared: 'बाबा महाकाल की कृपा, आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेंद्र मोदी जी के दूरदर्शी विजन और उज्जैनवासियों के सहयोग से उज्जैन विकास के नए आयाम स्थापित कर रहा है' — 'With the blessings of Baba Mahakal, the far-sighted vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the cooperation of Ujjain's residents, the city is establishing new dimensions of development.'

E-buses and Darshan routes launched from Mahakal Mahalok

The centrepiece of Sunday's event was the formal launch of the PM e-Bus Service and the Ujjain Darshan Service — both flagged off from the Mahakal Mahalok temple corridor. The electric buses will thread together Ujjain's principal religious and heritage sites, giving pilgrims and tourists a cleaner, safer, and more affordable way to move through the city.

The PM e-Bus Service is part of a central government push to electrify urban public transport across Indian cities. Integrating it into a pilgrimage circuit is a notable extension of that programme — one that directly addresses the chaotic mobility crunch that descends on Ujjain during major religious gatherings.

Simhastha 2028: the deadline driving every project

Everything announced on Sunday carries a common countdown: Simhastha 2028, the Kumbh Mela held at Ujjain every 12 years. The last edition, in 2016, prompted a comparable wave of road, ghat, and connectivity upgrades. This cycle, the stated ambition is world-class infrastructure — road, rail, and air connectivity all in scope, according to Dr. Yadav.

The Mahakal Mahalok corridor itself — a landmark developed in phases with central support — has already reshaped the pilgrim experience around the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, one of India's twelve sacred Jyotirlingas. Sunday's projects extend that vision outward into the city's broader transport and public-amenity fabric.

What the ₹173 crore envelope covers

Across the 15 works included in the day's bhumi-pujan and lok-arpan, the investment spans both new construction and the inauguration of completed projects. Dr. Yadav described the effort as equipping Ujjain with 'aadhunik suvidhaon' — modern amenities — while simultaneously reinforcing multi-modal links to the city.

Residents and pilgrims stand to be the most immediate beneficiaries: better roads into the city, electric buses within it, and a dedicated darshan circuit that removes the guesswork from navigating Ujjain's dense religious geography.

With two years left before millions converge on the banks of the Kshipra river, the pace of groundbreakings will only quicken. Ujjain is building — and the deadline is non-negotiable.