Preparations for Simhastha 2028 are gathering pace in Ujjain, and the effect is already visible on the city's streets. Alongside ongoing development work across the city, the police administration has begun rolling out a large plan to make traffic safer and more disciplined. Around 400 police personnel will be deployed across the city so that both the pilgrims arriving daily and local residents get relief from jams and disorder.
City split into 8 zones
Officials say that as part of Simhastha preparations, a force of 250 additional police personnel has been made available, who will work alongside the 150 personnel already deployed to handle traffic operations, crowd control and security across the city. To ensure smoother traffic management, the entire city of Ujjain has been divided into 8 zones, with police officers and personnel specially posted in each one. Extra police force will remain present at major crossroads, busy routes and crowded areas so that any traffic jam or emergency can be dealt with immediately.
Special training for police brought in from outside
Under Simhastha training, police personnel called in from other places are being given detailed briefings on Ujjain's geography, major routes, the diversion plan and traffic management. They are also being taught practical methods of crowd control and ensuring the safe movement of pilgrims, so that outside personnel can take charge quickly while understanding local conditions.
Strict enforcement at every crossroad, action for breaking signals
With the number of pilgrims rising and Simhastha approaching, police are now planning to enforce traffic rules even more strictly. Rules will be strictly enforced at every major crossroad in the city. Wherever signals are installed, stopping at the red light and moving only after the green signal will be mandatory, and action will be taken against drivers who break the rules. Since Mahakal Lok was built, lakhs of pilgrims have been reaching Ujjain every day, which has steadily increased traffic pressure, and this is the biggest reason behind the police department's current preparations.
ASP says road construction has added to the pressure
ASP Alok Sharma said that keeping traffic running smoothly in Ujjain amid Simhastha 2028 preparations has become a major challenge for the administration. According to him, ongoing road construction work in the city is continuously adding to traffic pressure. Keeping this in mind, a decision has been taken to ban the operation of autos and e-rickshaws on the stretch from Harifatak T-point to Neelkanth Dwar and Yadav Dharamshala, so that this busy stretch does not turn into a jam.
Decision came after talks with the auto-rickshaw union
The ban was not imposed unilaterally. Before taking the decision, the administration held a meeting with representatives of the auto and e-rickshaw union and took their suggestions. At this meeting, all parties supported the decision, aimed at giving city residents relief from jams, after which the administration cleared the way to implement it.
