Khattar Reviews PM Ekta Mall Progress in Ujjain
Synopsis
Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar reviewed the PM Ekta Mall being built by the Ujjain Development Authority on 20 June 2026, describing it as a vehicle for cultural unity and economic empowerment inspired by PM Modi's Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat vision.
Key Takeaways
Manohar Lal Khattar , Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, reviewed the PM Ekta Mall project in Ujjain on 20 June 2026 .
The mall is being developed by the Ujjain Development Authority in the pilgrimage city of Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh .
The project is framed under PM Narendra Modi 's Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat programme, launched in 2015 to promote national cultural integration.
Khattar stated the mall will boost trade, tourism, and investment in Ujjain and expand local employment opportunities.
The minister inspected a presentation on key features and issued directions to officials during the review.
The initiative aligns with broader central government efforts to develop integrated urban and commercial infrastructure in pilgrimage centres.
Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday, 20 June 2026, conducted a detailed review of the PM Ekta Mall being developed by the Ujjain Development Authority in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, inspecting a presentation on the project's key features and issuing necessary directions to officials.
In a post on X, Khattar described the mall as a project inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' ('One India, Great India'), saying it 'will become a strong medium of cultural unity and economic empowerment.' He added that the state-of-the-art facility would 'provide new energy to trade, tourism, and investment in Ujjain' while also expanding local employment opportunities.
Context
The PM Ekta Mall is being built in Ujjain, a historically significant pilgrimage city in Madhya Pradesh and home to the revered Mahakaleshwar temple. The project is being executed by the Ujjain Development Authority under the framework of the central government's cultural unity agenda. Khattar's review visit signals active oversight from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, which holds jurisdiction over urban development projects of this nature.
Policy Backdrop
The Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme was launched in 2015 by the central government to foster national integration through structured cultural exchanges between states. The PM Ekta Mall concept draws on this framework, seeking to embed the programme's ethos into a permanent physical infrastructure. The initiative also fits within a broader pattern of urban renewal in pilgrimage centres, building on earlier missions such as Smart Cities and AMRUT that have targeted tourism-led economic growth in Madhya Pradesh and other states.
Stakeholders and Impact
The project is expected to directly benefit Ujjain's traders, local youth, and the large volume of pilgrims and tourists who visit the city year-round. By combining commercial infrastructure with a cultural unity theme, the mall is positioned to attract investment and generate employment at the local level. Pilgrimage-driven footfall in Ujjain — already substantial owing to the Mahakaleshwar temple and events such as Kumbh Mela — is seen as a key demand driver for the facility.
What's Next
Attention will now turn to the timeline for completion and the eventual inauguration of the PM Ekta Mall. The directions issued by Khattar during the 20 June review are expected to shape the next phase of construction and planning. Observers will also watch whether similar malls under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat banner are announced in other states, which could signal a broader national rollout of the concept.
Point of View
Blending cultural branding with economic development. By invoking the Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat framework, the BJP is reinforcing a narrative of national unity through physical landmarks — a pattern visible across several temple-town urban renewal projects in recent years. The Housing Ministry's direct involvement signals that such malls may be positioned as a replicable model for other states. How quickly the Ujjain project reaches completion and whether similar facilities are announced elsewhere will determine whether this remains a one-off or becomes a defined policy line.
NationPress
20 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PM Ekta Mall in Ujjain?
The PM Ekta Mall is a commercial and cultural infrastructure project being developed by the Ujjain Development Authority in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat vision of national unity.
Why did Manohar Lal Khattar visit Ujjain in June 2026?
Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar visited Ujjain on 20 June 2026 to conduct a detailed review of the PM Ekta Mall's progress, inspect a presentation on its key features, and issue directions to the Ujjain Development Authority.
What is the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme?
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat is a central government programme launched in 2015 to promote national integration through cultural exchanges between Indian states. The PM Ekta Mall in Ujjain is framed as a permanent infrastructure embodiment of this vision.
What are the expected benefits of the PM Ekta Mall for Ujjain?
According to Union Minister Khattar, the mall is expected to boost trade, tourism, and investment in Ujjain, while also creating new employment opportunities for local residents and serving the city's large pilgrim and tourist population.
When will the PM Ekta Mall in Ujjain be completed?
A specific completion date for the PM Ekta Mall has not been officially announced. The June 2026 review by Khattar is expected to inform the next phase of construction, with the inauguration timeline to be confirmed by the Ujjain Development Authority.
