Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The second day of the Global Investors Summit in Bhopal witnessed back-to-back departmental summits. Sessions on tourism, mining, urban development, horticulture, etc., were held.

Addressing the Tourism Summit, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced the setting up of a spiritual city in Ujjain ahead of the Simhastha Kumbh-2028.

"We will set up a spiritual city over an area of around 3,300 hectares in Ujjain. It will be approved soon," Yadav said.

The plan comes as a part of the Madhya Pradesh government's preparation for the Simhastha Kumbh-2028 scheduled in Ujjain.

Simhastha (Kumbh Mela) occurs every 12 years on the banks of the Shipra River.

The spiritual city will be developed on the lines of Haridwar. The state government will allot space here to spiritual gurus, like 'Mahamandleshwar, Sadhu, Sant, Mahant,' to set up their 'ashrams.'.

Not just ashrams, this proposed city will also accommodate schools, colleges, hospitals, and lodging (dharamshala). Private companies can also participate.

The chief minister said that the state is committed to offering investor-friendly policies to attract more investment, leading to overall growth.

"We understand that Madhya Pradesh has high potential in tourism—given its diverse geography, rich history, and scenic beauty. So, as soon as the government came into power, we decided to promote tourism. We made reforms in the policy, expanded infrastructure, and worked on improving connectivity, keeping travellers' convenience in mind."

The state government has also framed an aviation policy to boost tourism. It is currently offering a Rs 7.5 lakh incentive per flight to carriers.