Indian Railways is actively finalizing comprehensive logistics for the upcoming 2028 Simhastha festival in Ujjain to ensure smooth travel for millions of devotees. Indian Railways plans to operate between 100 and 125 special trains to effectively manage the massive influx of pilgrims during the sacred event. To prevent severe congestion at the main Ujjain station, a brand new facility is currently being constructed at Pawasa. This upcoming station features a 600-meter high-level permanent platform along with robust infrastructure designed to seamlessly handle trains diverted from the Bhopal track. The ongoing construction is being overseen by a Bhopal-based firm as part of a larger infrastructure upgrade plan confirmed by Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar during an official briefing in Indore on September 6, 2026.
Despite robust preparations for the mega-festival, several major station redevelopment projects are currently facing significant hurdles and timeline delays.
The ₹412 crore Indore railway station project, which was officially contracted to Montecarlo Ltd. on
December 24, 2024, has only reached
8% completion. This is remarkably well behind the targeted
35% completion expected for the 15 months since active construction commenced in
April 2025. Addressing these concerns, DRM Ashwini Kumar noted that persistent site clearance issues and unavoidable design finalization delays make finishing the project prior to the 2028 festival practically unfeasible. In response, industry experts have strongly recommended implementing a fresh master plan that comprehensively covers the railway colony, reservation office, parking facilities, and commercial zones.
In a separate update, the
₹462 crore redevelopment of Chandigarh Railway Station is continuing its progress after having missed eight previous completion deadlines. Saurabh Singh, Joint General Manager of projects for the Rail Land Development Authority in Chandigarh, officially confirmed a
revised completion target of December 31, 2026. Railway authorities have stated that roughly
90% of the structural work will be accomplished during a crucial
36-day traffic block, while the final 10% of the work is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.
