- Efforts of Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma Receive a Positive Response from the Central Government; Gratitude Expressed to Union Minister for Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
- Deputy Chief Minister Requested Special Exemptions to Connect Remote, Naxalism-Free Villages to the Road Network
Ahead of Diwali, a significant milestone has been achieved with the Central Government’s support for expanding road connectivity in the remote, inaccessible, and tribal regions of the Bastar division. Approval has been granted to integrate 485 settlements in Bastar into the mainstream, while proposals for 263 road projects—costing ₹804.06 crore—have been received to provide all-weather road connectivity to another 280 settlements. The Central Government is actively supporting the State Government’s efforts to accelerate development alongside the decisive campaign against Naxalism in Bastar, aiming to bring remote villages into the mainstream.
Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Shri Vijay Sharma had written to Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah and Union Minister for Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, highlighting the unique geographical challenges of the Bastar division, the specific needs of villages liberated from Naxalism, and the necessity for expanding road and bridge connectivity. In response, Union Minister for Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has expressed a positive stance. In his letter, the Union Minister provided detailed information regarding the progress of road connectivity expansion in Bastar, including approved projects, proposed roads and bridges, and the actions being taken concerning special exemptions.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma have expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan for the Central Government’s sensitivity and proactive initiatives toward the development of Bastar. Road Connectivity Initiatives for 1,168 Settlements in Bastar Underway in Various Phases
Union Minister for Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has stated that road connectivity projects for 1,168 settlements in the Bastar division are currently in various stages of implementation. Projects for 485 of these settlements have already been approved. Additionally, proposals for 263 road projects—aimed at connecting 280 settlements—have been received under the second batch of the fourth phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). These roads will span a total length of 841.825 kilometers, with an estimated cost of ₹804.06 crore. Meanwhile, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are being prepared for approximately 474 other identified settlements.
Under the first batch of the fourth phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, road projects for 234 settlements in the Bastar division have received approval. This includes 87 settlements in Bastar district, 44 in Bijapur, 12 in Dantewada, 41 in Kanker, 34 in Kondagaon, and 16 in Sukma.
- All-Weather Road Connectivity to Reach 754 Additional Settlements; Proposals Prepared Across Seven Districts
The second batch of PMGSY-4 includes proposals to provide road connectivity to 114 settlements in Bastar district, 125 in Bijapur, 63 in Dantewada, 140 in Kanker, 31 in Kondagaon, 136 in Narayanpur, and 146 in Sukma. This process involves conducting surveys via the ‘Rural Road Survey App’ and integrating the projects with the ‘Gati Shakti’ initiative. The construction of these proposed roads will expand transport facilities, particularly in remote, forested regions. This will make it easier for villagers to access healthcare centers, schools, Anganwadi centers, markets, and administrative services. Additionally, new opportunities will emerge for the transportation of agricultural produce, local trade, and rural livelihoods.
- Momentum for Bridge Construction: Proposals for 373 Bridges Discussed
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated in a letter that a meeting of the empowered committee was held to consider proposals for 206 bridges under Batch-1 of PMGSY-4 (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-4) and 167 bridges under the PM-JANMAN scheme. These proposals will be granted approval shortly.
Notably, proposals for 55 major bridges have been submitted for the Bastar division. Furthermore, an action plan for bridge construction in subsequent phases has also been prepared. In a remote district like Narayanpur, proposals for 22 major bridges have been drafted under the PM-JANMAN scheme, with an estimated cost of approximately ₹87.45 crore. The construction of these bridges will provide significant relief to villages that often become cut off during the rainy season due to overflowing rivers and streams, while also facilitating connectivity for remote settlements.
- Initiative for Special Exemptions for Naxal-free Villages
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma drew the Central Government’s attention—via a formal letter—to the unique geographical conditions of the Bastar division. Within the dense forests and scattered, small settlements of Bastar, there are many villages with populations of less than 100. Due to the existing population-based criteria under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, these villages often fail to qualify for all-weather road connectivity. The Deputy Chief Minister requested special exemptions to accelerate development work in villages that have been freed from the influence of Naxalism. Specifically, he highlighted the need for relaxations in population-calculation norms for designated clusters, as well as a provision to treat small, scattered settlements located within a 10-kilometer radius as a single cluster for the purpose of approving road projects.Union Minister Shri Chouhan has announced the launch of a four-month survey, conducted via the Gram Sadak Survey (GSS) app, to identify the remaining eligible habitations in the Bastar division and assess their requirements for road connectivity. Requests for a cluster-based approach and special exemptions will be evaluated based on the findings from this survey and in accordance with the applicable guidelines.
- Bastar moving toward development as it breaks free from Naxalism – Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma stated that with the decline of Naxalite influence in Bastar, new possibilities for development are rapidly emerging. Our priority is to ensure that villages—which for years lived under an atmosphere of fear and insecurity—now gain access to roads, education, healthcare, electricity, communication, and employment opportunities. He emphasized that a road is not merely a means to connect two locations; it serves as the foundation for the social and economic development of remote villages. Paved roads enable children to attend school, patients to receive timely medical treatment, and farmers to transport their produce to markets. Furthermore, such connectivity facilitates the delivery of government schemes and services to families living in the most remote areas. It is for this reason that a request for special exemptions for small and inaccessible habitations in Bastar has been made—to ensure that no village remains deprived of road connectivity simply due to a small population or challenging geographical conditions.
- Gratitude expressed to the Union Minister for supporting Bastar’s development
Expressing his gratitude to the Union Minister for Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma noted that the Central Government’s serious consideration of proposals for road and bridge construction in the Bastar division—along with the initiation of a survey and subsequent steps that account for the region’s unique circumstances—is a significant, positive initiative. He remarked that the coordinated efforts of the Central and State governments are paving a new path for development in the remote regions of Bastar. Our government is committed to ensuring that the light of development reaches every village that has freed itself from the shadow of Naxalism. Where movement was once difficult, roads will now be built; bridges will shorten distances, and better opportunities for education, healthcare, and livelihoods will become available to the villagers.
Shri Sharma expressed confidence that, with the continued support of the Central Government, the remaining eligible villages in the Bastar division will also be connected by road in a phased manner, ultimately transforming Bastar into the most developed tribal division.