Simhasth 2028: Ujjain MC Slaps Rs 66 Lakh Fine Over Roadwork Delays
Ujjain Municipal Corporation imposes Rs 66 lakh in penalties on contractors for delays in Simhasth 2028 road widening projects.
In a massive crackdown on negligence and inefficiency, the Ujjain Municipal Corporation has imposed penalties totaling Rs 66 lakh on contractors and consultants. The strict action comes as officials discovered significant delays in the road widening projects intended to prepare the city for the massive influx of pilgrims during Simhasth 2028.
Municipal Commissioner Abhilash Mishra took a direct approach, conducting an extensive inspection of key construction sites on Tuesday. The visit revealed a worrying pattern of slow progress, missing technical documentation, shortages of essential materials, and a failure to clear debris from work zones.
Major Penalties for Key Stretches
The penalties were distributed across several critical projects where work had fallen dangerously behind schedule:
Neelkanth to Mahakal Square
This 370-meter stretch is being widened to 24 meters with an estimated budget of approximately Rs 11 crore. However, the progress was found to be unsatisfactory. Yogesh Enterprises, the contractor for this section, was fined Rs 20 lakh for the slow demolition of buildings and the failure to remove construction debris. Additionally, the consultant Technogem was penalized Rs 1 lakh for failing to provide the necessary drawings and designs.
Ramanuj Kot to Danigate
For the 470-meter stretch being widened to 18 meters, the Municipal Corporation took a hard line against Vijay Infra. The contractor was slapped with a Rs 25 lakh fine due to the sluggish pace of work and a lack of essential materials required for the construction of boundary walls and drains.
Pipeline Failures
The Tata Company also found itself in the crosshairs of the administration, receiving a Rs 20 lakh penalty for failing to install a 1600mm pipeline during the drain crossing process.
Directives for Rapid Completion
Beyond the financial penalties, Commissioner Mishra inspected the road widening project extending from 24 Khamba to Harsiddhi Pal. To ensure the city is ready for the upcoming spiritual gathering, the Commissioner issued a series of urgent directives:
- Accelerated Demolition: Immediate orders were given to expedite the demolition of any remaining structures.
- Modern Technology: Contractors have been told to adopt pre-cast technology for drain construction to save time.
- Quality Control: High standards must be maintained for water connections and other utility works.
- Resource Boost: All contractors are now ordered to increase their workforce and deploy more machinery to speed up the timeline.
The Ujjain Municipal Corporation has now instructed its officials to conduct regular, rigorous inspections to monitor every phase of the progress. The administration is determined to ensure that all infrastructure is fully operational and seamless before the Simhasth event begins.