Ankpat to Khak Chowk Road in Ujjain to Be Widened to 100 Feet: 20-Plus Temples Marked, Priests Warn of Movement
Some of Ujjain's oldest neighbourhood shrines sit on the road running from Ankpat towards Khak Chowk, in the old city near Sandipani Ashram. The Ujjain Development Authority has now marked temples and religious sites along that stretch with red lines for a proposed widening from about 45 feet to roughly 100 feet — 30 metres. If you plan to walk or drive this corridor, it is worth knowing what has and has not been decided.
What has been marked
Dainik Bhaskar reported on 15 October that more than two dozen ancient temples and religious sites sit on both sides of the corridor. Among those named are the city's Uttar mukhi Hanuman temple, the Avighna Vinayak Ganesh temple — one of the Shat Vinayak — and the Handifod Bhairav temple. MP Breaking News, reporting the same day, listed a wider set that also includes Purushottam, Narmadeshwar Mahadev, Ram temple, Annapurna Mata, Veer Hanuman, Bada Ram, Shri Ram Hanuman, Lal Patthar Hanuman, Gopal Dham and Rawidas Dham.
How much of each shrine is at risk
The priest of the Uttar mukhi Hanuman temple, Pandit Amit Pathak, told Bhaskar that red marks run up to 7.64 metres, about 25 feet, into his temple, which could leave the old sabhamandap fully affected and only the garbhagriha standing. The Brihspateshwar Mahadev and Annapurna Mata temples in the same complex are also in the line. Elsewhere along the route, reported losses run to six or seven metres of the structure. How much is finally removed will be known only after the survey and the proposed demarcation are done.
What the priests have asked for
Pandit Pathak has asked that the roughly 25-foot mark on his temple be reduced to 10 or 15 feet so the original structure survives, and that UDA and administration officials hold a meeting on site with the priests and saints before anything is finalised. As of the reports, no formal meeting had taken place and the priests were waiting for a notice. Pandit Harinarayan Shastri said a meeting would follow once it came. Pandit Pathak warned that if talks fail and temples are removed, there would be a movement — and said the loss of old temples in the name of Simhastha cannot be accepted every time.
Why these shrines matter to pilgrims
The priests point out that the Handifod Bhairav temple is tied to the city's nagar puja during Navratri, and that the Avighna Vinayak and Nau Narayan temples hold a special place in local pilgrim yatras. This road was also widened once before: during the 2004 Simhastha, parts and porches of several temples on it went into the carriageway.
What is not decided yet
Nothing has been approved and nothing demolished. The red lines are survey markings, a formal notice to temple management had not been issued at the time of reporting, and the final road width is not fixed. We found no published diversion, parking or access plan for the corridor, so treat the alignment as provisional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which road in Ujjain is being widened for Simhastha 2028? A: The road from Ankpat towards Khak Chowk. It is currently about 45 feet wide and is proposed to go to roughly 100 feet, or 30 metres.
Q: How many temples are affected? A: Both Dainik Bhaskar and MP Breaking News report more than two dozen ancient temples and religious sites on both sides of the corridor.
Q: Has any temple been demolished? A: No. As of 15 October 2026 the authorities had only marked the structures with red lines after the survey, and a formal notice to temple management had not yet been issued.
Q: Which temple is most at risk? A: The Uttar mukhi Hanuman temple, where the priest says marks run about 25 feet in and the old sabhamandap could be lost, leaving only the sanctum. Brihspateshwar Mahadev and Annapurna Mata in the same complex are also in the line.
Q: What have the priests demanded? A: A narrower footprint — 10 to 15 feet instead of about 25 — at the Uttar mukhi Hanuman temple, and an on-site meeting with UDA and administration officials before any decision is taken.
Q: Was this road widened before? A: Yes. According to Pandit Harinarayan Shastri, the route was widened during the 2004 Simhastha, and parts of several temples went into the road at that time.
Planning around old-city walks
If your itinerary includes the smaller shrines around Ankpat, Khak Chowk or the ghats, allow for diversions or dust once work begins. Our team at Shrim Tours & Travels can help you sequence the walk, time your pickups around Ujjain Junction and Dewas, and keep the rest of your pilgrimage days unaffected. Reach us at http://tours.shrimmaya.com/.
This story is based on reporting by Dainik Bhaskar, published for guests planning a pilgrimage to Ujjain. Read the original report at https://www.bhaskar.com/g/local/mp/ujjain/news/ujjain-temple-protest-road-widening-uda-controversy-update-139369778.html
