As infrastructure preparations for the upcoming Simhastha 2028 religious gathering gain momentum in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, the local municipal corporation has issued an official notice regarding an obstruction posed by a portion of Faladiya Mosque to a proposed elevated flyover project. According to civic authorities, a 224-square-meter section on the ground floor of the mosque falls directly within the alignment of the new flyover route, prompting administrative steps to resolve the bottleneck.
Municipal Notice and Hearing Process
The Ujjain Municipal Corporation served the notice on October 23, identifying a structure measuring 16 meters in width and 14 meters in depth at the ground level of the mosque complex as the main hindrance to the elevated corridor. To evaluate the legality and property records, the civic body directed the mosque management committee to present relevant ownership documents at the corporation headquarters on October 27. Officials maintained that further administrative or legal action would be determined only after thoroughly examining the submitted documentation and giving the concerned representatives a fair hearing.
Mosque Heritage Claims and Impact on Livelihoods
In response to the civic notice, the mosque management asserted that the Faladiya Mosque is approximately 100 years old and holds historic significance for the local community. Furthermore, the mosque complex houses around six commercial shops that have been operating for several decades. These establishments serve as the primary source of daily livelihood for multiple local families. Traders and management members expressed deep concern that any physical action or removal of the structural portion could disrupt these small businesses and ruin their families' financial sustenance.
Simhastha 2028 Infrastructure Push and Context of Earlier Disputes
The ongoing project is part of a broader infrastructure overhaul in Ujjain designed to accommodate millions of devotees expected to attend the Simhastha fair in 2028. The administration is prioritizing road widening, flyover networks, and traffic flow enhancements to handle massive pedestrian and vehicular movements safely. However, clearing structural encroachments or historical buildings along project routes frequently presents sensitive regulatory and social challenges.
This latest development follows a major dispute in Ujjain last month involving the removal of a portion of the Shahi Masjid. That operation sparked intense public protests and local unrest, forcing law enforcement agencies to deploy heavy police personnel and fire tear gas shells to disperse crowds. Subsequently, police launched a crackdown against individuals involved in stone-pelting and sharing inflammatory videos on social media platforms, resulting in an FIR against 7 persons and the arrest of more than 15 individuals.
