Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of the ambitious Mahakal corridor project on Tuesday amid a festive mood in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain as thousands attended the programme at the Kartik Mela ground. The Rs 856-crore project will be completed in two phases by June 2023.
“Phase I of the project will help in enriching the experience of pilgrims visiting the temple by providing them with world-class modern amenities,” ANI quoted PM Modi as saying.
Addressing a gathering, PM Modi said cultural destinations across India were seeing all-round development.
“During the Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal, we broke the shackles of colonialism with the spirit of Panch Pran. For the first time, Char Dham is being connected with all-weather roads,” PM Modi said.
“For the first time since Independence, roads are developed and an ‘all-weather highway development project’ is undertaken to connect all four dhams under the Char Dham project,” he further said.
Before inaugurating the corridor, PM Modi, attired in traditional dhoti and gamcha (stole), performed puja at Lord Mahakal temple.
He was accompanied by Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
Prayers were held at temples in all villages and cities of Madhya Pradesh coinciding with the Mahakal corridor inauguration programme.
The ‘Mahakal Lok’ corridor, more than 900-metre-long, has been built around the old Rudrasagar Lake, which has also been revived, and the famous Mahakaleshwar Temple, one of the 12 ‘jyotirlingas’ in the country that attracts lakhs of devotees.
Two gateways — Nandi Dwar and Pinaki Dwar — have been erected near the starting point of the corridor.
A colonnade of 108 ornate pillars made of intricately carved sandstones, gushing fountains and a running panel of more than 50 murals depicting stories from the ‘Shiv Puran’ are among the major highlights of the ‘Mahakal Lok’ corridor.
There are 28 panels on seven pedestals bearing sculptures of ‘Saptrishis’ in a circle, and a massive 111-ft long Shiv Vivah mural at the lower deck of Rudrasagar lakefront.
The project also includes a park, a multi-storied parking lot for cars and buses, a florist and other shops, solar lighting and a facility centre for pilgrims.
Twitter feeds of various government departments and other agencies were filled with images of the Mahakaleshwar Temple prior to the opening by PM Modi.
(With inputs from PTI)