Raipur, July 31, 2026: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai today met Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Delhi and urged him to make special provisions under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-IV) to strengthen road connectivity to the remote and inaccessible areas of the Bastar division of the state.
Chief Minister Sai stated that many villages in Bastar are situated amidst dense forests, hills, and challenging geographical terrain. Currently, under the PMGSY, habitations located within a 500-meter radius are considered a single cluster. Due to this existing norm, many small and remote villages in Bastar remain deprived of road connectivity.
He requested special permission to treat habitations within a 10-kilometer radius as a single cluster in Bastar, similar to the model adopted in Arunachal Pradesh, so that a greater number of villages can be connected to the road network.
Sai remarked that Bastar is now moving rapidly on the path of development, having emerged from the era of Naxalism. At this juncture, improved road connectivity would serve as the most effective means to link the local population with education, healthcare, agriculture, employment opportunities, and government schemes.
He emphasised that roads are not merely a means of transportation but the foundation of development, security, and prosperity. Therefore, considering Bastar’s unique geographical conditions, this proposal should be approved on a priority basis.
State Deputy Chief Minister-Home Vijay Sharma, the Secretary of the Union Ministry of Rural Development, and the Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Subodh Kumar Singh were also present at the meeting.
During the meeting, Home Minister Vijay Sharma apprised the Union Minister of the progress regarding rural development, the expansion of basic infrastructure, and various state government development schemes across the state, including Bastar.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan listened to the Chief Minister’s proposal attentively and assured him that it would be considered positively.
Chouhan stated that the Central Government is working with great sensitivity towards the development of remote and tribal regions like Bastar, and that necessary action would be taken regarding the state government’s proposal.
During the meeting, the Union Minister commended the work being undertaken by the Chhattisgarh government in the field of rural development. He noted that projects such as the construction of Muktidhams (cremation grounds) and toilets under the G RAM G Yojana are being executed effectively.
Additionally, while praising the effective implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, he remarked that the construction of approximately 1,500 houses daily in the state is a remarkable achievement.
He expressed confidence that through the coordinated efforts of the central and state governments, development activities across Chhattisgarh, including the Bastar region, would accelerate further.
