Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar visited Ujjain on Saturday, 20 June 2026 to review preparations for Simhastha-2028, the major Kumbh Mela held every twelve years on the banks of the Shipra river. He was joined by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav and state Cabinet Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya for an on-ground inspection of ongoing construction works.

Context

Khattar inspected the progress of 29.15 kilometres of new ghats being built at an estimated cost of approximately ₹778 crore. In a post on X, the minister described the visit as an opportunity to observe construction progress and issue directions for time-bound, high-quality completion. He wrote: 'Simhastha केवल एक धार्मिक आयोजन नहीं' — 'Simhastha is not merely a religious event, but a grand symbol of India's Sanatan faith, spiritual consciousness and cultural heritage' — underscoring the scale of importance the Centre attaches to the 2028 edition.

Policy Backdrop

The Simhastha Kumbh Mela last took place in Ujjain in 2016, when the Madhya Pradesh government undertook large-scale works covering ghats, roads and sanitation. The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has operated the PRASHAD scheme since 2014-15 to fund infrastructure upgrades at identified pilgrimage sites, with Ujjain among the listed destinations. Central and state governments have pursued a pattern of permanent infrastructure investment ahead of each Kumbh cycle, as seen at Prayagraj and Haridwar in recent years.

Stakeholders and Impact

The Simhastha Kumbh draws crores of pilgrims to Ujjain over several weeks, placing immense pressure on riverfront access, crowd management and sanitation systems. The new ghat network spanning over 29 kilometres is intended to ease congestion and provide safe bathing access to the large number of devotees expected in 2028. Khattar directed officials to ensure all construction is completed on schedule and to a high standard, with pilgrim safety and convenience as the primary benchmarks.

What's Next

Officials and observers will track the pace of the ghat construction project as the 2028 mela approaches, with attention on whether any supplementary central funding is announced under urban-development or pilgrimage-infrastructure schemes. The review signals that the Centre intends to maintain close oversight of the project rather than leaving it solely to the state machinery. Khattar's presence alongside Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav suggests coordinated Centre-state planning will continue through the remaining construction window.