The Ujjain Development Authority plans to redevelop the Bhukhi Mata temple complex on the banks of the Kshipra river at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore, with the project aimed at improving visitor facilities and crowd management ahead of Simhastha 2028. The tender is currently under technical examination.
The temple has been included in the authority’s wider plan to redevelop Ujjain’s ancient religious sites. The project will seek to preserve the temple’s historical and religious identity while strengthening its structure and adding facilities for the large number of devotees expected during festivals and Simhastha.
According to executive engineer Kuldeep Raghuvanshi, the redevelopment plan includes a corridor within the temple complex designed in local and traditional architectural styles. The corridor is intended to retain the site’s antiquity and religious character while regulating the movement of devotees, including separate arrangements for entry and exit where required.
The proposed public amenities centre will include a waiting hall, rest area, drinking water facilities and toilets. The complex will also provide ramps and barrier-free access for persons with disabilities. Information and signage boards are planned to guide visitors towards facilities and movement routes.
Parking is a major component of the project. The authority proposes acquiring private land if required to create an organised parking area for vehicles arriving at the temple. The facility is expected to reduce traffic congestion and haphazard parking on nearby roads during festivals. The project will also cover approach roads and traffic arrangements in areas surrounding the temple, with separate provisions potentially made for devotees and vehicles.
The redevelopment plan includes landscaped green areas, high-mast lights and decorative night lighting. CCTV cameras at key locations, including the temple, ghat and parking area, will be connected to a control system for monitoring. These measures are intended to support safer and smoother movement through the complex during periods of heavy footfall.
The goddess at the temple is also worshipped as Bhog Mata or Bhogeshwari. According to the account cited in the project context, the tradition is associated with a special bhog believed to have been offered during the time of King Vikramaditya, after which the practice of Mahabhog became established.
The authority expects the completed complex to become a prominent religious-tourism destination in Ujjain. The immediate project milestone is the completion of the tender’s technical examination, after which implementation arrangements will determine the timeline for the proposed temple, parking, access and surrounding-area improvements.