Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh): Being built between Piplinaka and Bhairavgarh, the city’s first six-lane road has affected the lives of about 13,000 people in the area. Exasperated over the lack of redressal to their complaints, locals shut shops and took out a rally in the area on Wednesday. Officials arrived at the Piplinaka intersection in the afternoon and accepted the memorandum from the protesters.
While the residents are not opposed to the project per se, they say their houses or shops should not be destroyed in the process. While the plan is to widen the road by 45 meters (150 feet) in the six-lane, residents said the work could also be done by keeping the road width between 18 and 24 metres.
They also flagged how the houses and shops of a BJP corporator, a former corporator, four booth presidents, and other party officials are also affected by the road widening. Since the area is considered a stronghold of the ruling party, they said those affected were all BJP supporters.
The locals have also taken their grievance to CM Mohan Yadav’s elder brother and social worker Narayan Yadav, requesting support in getting the width reduced.
Corporator Hemant Gehlot said, “We have been against it even when the plan was being made. But responsible people made the plan. If the road is made 45 metres wide, the houses and shops of many residents will be destroyed.”
Peer assures of all support
Locals also met Yogi Peer Ramnath, Peethadheeshwar of Bharthari Gufa, to appeal for the reduction of the proposed road width from 45 metres to 18 metres on the Piplinaka to Gadkalika route.
They urged him to discuss the matter with the CM and UP CM Yogi Adityanath to seek a viable solution. Responding to their plea, Ramnath conveyed the concerns to the UP CM and assured them that he would soon place the matter before the MP CM as well.
He acknowledged that the infrastructure and development works being undertaken in preparation for Simhastha-2028 are essential and supported the widening of the traditional Peshwai route.
However, he emphasised that such development should draw inspiration from the planning and execution of similar projects during the recent Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj and in other religious cities such as Ayodhya and Kashi.
