The Directorate of Religious Trust and Endowment will operate from the holy city of Baba Mahakal adding a new chapter to the history of Ujjain. He said that Ujjaini has a distinct identity. It is centre of calculation of Time. It is all-time city. Chief Minister Yadav was addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Directorate of Religious Trust and Religion Department in Ujjain on Monday.

Yadav said that Ujjain special in many respect. It is known by different names. In every era it had a unique name. Ujjain has many names. It is known as Avantika, which means infinity. It is also named Amravati, which is associated with immortality. It is Padmavati that means the beloved city of Lord Vishnu. The other names by which it is also known are Kanakvati, Kusumvati, Kanakshranga. Now it is Ujjaini, which means an excellent city. Ujjaini is a city that rewards devotees more than they expected.

Yadav said that for the first time the Cabinet meeting was held in Ujjain chaired by the former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Cabinet decisions were taken at this sacred place. Prime Minister Shri Modi came here. Mahakaal Lok was inaugurated. Due to efforts of Samrat Vikramaditya Research Centre, many programs started from here. Vikramaditya Mahotsav was organized in many states of India. The importance of Vikramaditya and Bhartuhari is well known. When Bhopal became the capital, every city got its due respect. Ujjain got Vikram University. Indore got the High Court, Gwalior got the revenue office and Jabalpur got the main branch of the High Court.

The Chief Minister said that the new office of the Commissionerate will operate from Ujjain. Funds for all the Devasthanams including Baba Mahakal are sanctioned by this department. The maintenance of temples is approved.

The religious pilgrimages going to the Devasthanams are handled by this department. This department also selects the list and makes other arrangements for the Mukhya Mantri Teerth Darshan Yojana. A budget of Rs 26 crore will also be made for the construction of temples through the Commissionerate of this department. Now air service has also been added. Air travel has also been started to places like Prayagraj, Mathura, Vrindavan. This Commissionerate will play a big role.

Yadav said that Devasthanams including Salkanpur, Datia, Orchha will be developed. 13 Lokas are being built at different Devasthanams in the state. This office will make better management of all the arrangements related to the temple. With the opening of the Directorate, two decisions have been taken. A decision has been taken to develop all those places which have the footprints of Lord Shri Ram as a pilgrimage site. Similarly, all those places associated with the life of Lord Srikrishna will be developed as Devasthanams and become centers of pilgrimage. This directorate will play its role. For this, an amount of Rs 500 crore has been kept in the budget. Simhastha will play a big role in promoting religious centers not only in Ujjain but also in Indore. Arrangements have also been made for the honorarium of all the pujaris of the temples.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav announced two new police stations in Ujjain one in Baba Mahakal Lok Complex and another on Indore Road as many colonies have come up there. Both these police stations will be inaugurated with all the posts from this year.

Given the demand to increase Home Guard jawans, Chief Minister Dr. Yadav announced the approval of 400 new Home Guard jawans. He said that this would further strengthen the security system.

MP Shri Anil Firoziya said that the inauguration of the Directorate of Religious Trust and Endowment Department in Ujjain is a big task. Now, other religious construction works including temples and religious trusts of the entire state will be conducted from here.