Ujjain religious sites demolished for 2028 Kumbh Mela road works

Infrastructure projects in Ujjain, aimed at preparing for the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh Mela, have led to the demolition of several religious structures. The Madhya Pradesh High Court upheld the Ujjain Municipal Corporation’s decision to demolish parts of the century-old Shahi Mosque for road widening, ruling that ensuring transportation and security for pilgrims is a matter of public interest. The court noted that the corporation had not acted discriminatorily, as other structures, including ten temples, had also been removed along the route.

In a related development, members of the Bohra community have begun the consensual removal of a portion of the Husami Mosque to facilitate the widening of the road from Kanthal to Gopal Mandir.

Additionally, the demolition of the Khade Hanuman temple has drawn significant attention due to the inability of authorities to relocate the temple's statue. Despite multiple attempts using machinery, the idol remains in its original position. Officials are now considering using scanning technology to examine the base of the idol before attempting further relocation efforts.