Ujjain: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first phase of the Rs 856-crore Mahakaleshwar Temple corridor development project here on Tuesday which is expected to significantly boost tourism in this holy city of Madhya Pradesh. A large-size 'shivaling' covered in strands of 'moli' (sacred) threads has been placed below the grand gateway -- Nandi Dwar -- of the 'Mahakal Lok', sources said, adding that according to plan, the prime minister will officially unveil the 'shivaling' to symbolically mark the opening of the mega corridor.


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The corridor measures over 900 metres in length and is dotted with 108 ornate sandstone columns in a row which bear decorative 'trishul' design on top and 'mudras' of Lord Shiva. It also has gushing fountains surrounded by artistic sculptures of the deity as well as 53 illuminated murals depicting stories from the Shiv Puran.


Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy on Twitter shared a video showing spectacular drone views of the corridor. "Jai Mahakal The first phase of the Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple Corridor of Ujjain is all set to be inaugurated by Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji tomorrow 11th, October," he tweeted.


 



 


Reddy also shared another video on Twitter showing the sculptures, murals and other structures of the corridor. Madhya Pradesh cabinet minister Bhupendra Singh had earlier said that Prime Minister Modi will land in Ujjain around 5:30 PM on October 11.


PM Modi's chopper will land at a helipad located in the Police Line campus here. The span of the designated helipad has been widened to facilitate landing on the day of the event. "Mega arrangements have been made for the opening of the 'Mahakal Lok' that will be dedicated to the people by the prime minister. After reaching Ujjain, he will drive to the temple complex in his motorcade and perform a 'puja' at the Mahakaleshwar Temple. After that, he will go to the 'Nandi Dwar' and inaugurate the corridor," said a senior official of Ujjain Smart City Ltd, which has executed the project. As he will travel through the corridor, a large number of artistes will perform along the route.


Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday evening took stock of the preparations and oversaw dress rehearsal of various cultural performance that will be held in the corridor premises -- from Nandi Dwar to the temple -- to welcome PM Modi.


Later, at a grand event the same day at the Kartik Mela ground, well-known singer Kailash Kher will perform a special anthem -- 'Jai Shri Mahakal', a 'Shiva Stuti' dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the ancient temple.


Mahakaleshwar Temple 


The Mahakaleshwar Temple is one of the 12 'jyotirlings' in the country and gets devotees throughout the year. The mega corridor in Ujjain is located around 200 km from the state capital Bhopal. Ahead of PM Modi's visit, Ujjain has been decked up with colourful flags on a large number of lamp posts, while many streets and flyovers have been decorated with lights, including the Hari Phatak flyover that overlooks the new corridor which has turned into a selfie point of sorts for locals.


The city has been decorated with fairy lights, and 'diyas' giving an appearance of an early Diwali. From October 7, several cultural events have been hosted in the run-up to the inauguration, including a laser show, Ramlila at Ram Ghat and daily 'mahaarti' on the banks of Kshipra river.


Ujjain Smart City Ltd has described the project with the tagline -- "Adbhut. Anupam. Allokik". Twitter feeds of various government departments and other agencies are filled with images of the Mahakaleshwar Temple and cultural events being held prior to the opening.


According to the tentative travel plan of the prime minister, he is to undertake the journey to Indore airport by air, and then fly here in a helicopter in the evening, officials had earlier said.


Ujjain Smart City Project


The Mahakaleshwar Temple is considered one of the holiest places on earth by Hindus, and lakhs of people converge here from all parts of the country during the Shravan month of the Hindu calendar or Mahashivratri. Chief Executive Officer of Ujjain Smart City Ltd, Ashish Kumar Pathak said that after the opening, the excitement of people will only multiply and lead to a "huge jump" in tourist footfall. The project after completion will expand the temple complex area from 2.87 ha earlier to 47 ha, and the holding capacity will be significantly enhanced, officials said.


'Mahakal Lok' development also includes a mid-way zone, a park, a multi-storied parking lot for cars and buses, florist and other shops, solar lighting, a facility centre for pilgrims, water pipeline and sewer line, among others. A light and sound system has also been developed, and work on phase two of the project is currently underway, under which Rudrasagar Lake has been rejuvenated.