Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses the Chhattisgarh Rajat Mahotsav
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses the Chhattisgarh Rajat Mahotsav
“Twenty-five years ago, the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee handed over the Chhattisgarh of your dreams to you, along with a resolve that the state would reach new heights of development”, said Shri Modi. He remarked that looking back at the journey of the past 25 years fills him with pride. He highlighted that the people of Chhattisgarh have collectively achieved numerous milestones. “The seed that was sown twenty-five years ago has now grown into a flourishing tree of development. Chhattisgarh is rapidly advancing on the path of progress”, remarked the Prime Minister. He added that today, the state has also received a new temple of democracy—a new Assembly building. Before arriving at the venue, he had the opportunity to inaugurate the Tribal Museum. From the same platform, projects worth approximately ₹14,000 crore were inaugurated and launched. He extended his congratulations to everyone for these development initiatives.
The Prime Minister observed that since the year 2000, an entire generation has changed. Today, there is a new generation of youth who have not seen the earlier days when reaching villages was a challenge and many villages lacked any trace of roads. He highlighted that today, the road network in Chhattisgarh’s villages has expanded to 40,000 kilometers. Over the past 11 years, the state has witnessed unprecedented expansion of national highways, and new expressways are becoming symbols of Chhattisgarh’s progress. Shri Modi noted that earlier, traveling from Raipur to Bilaspur took several hours, but now that time has been reduced by half. He also announced the foundation stone of a new four-lane highway, which will further enhance connectivity between Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
Noting that Chhattisgarh is home to one of the country’s largest tribal populations—a community with a proud history and immense contributions to India’s heritage and development, Shri Modi emphasized that the government is consistently working to ensure that the entire nation and the world recognize and celebrate the contributions of tribal communities. Whether through the establishment of museums dedicated to tribal freedom fighters across the country or by declaring the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, the government’s constant endeavour is to honour and glorify the legacy of the tribal society.
Stressing that their government is simultaneously working to preserve tribal heritage and promote tribal development and welfare, Shri Modi cited the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, which is bringing new light of development to thousands of tribal villages across the country. He noted that this is an ₹80,000 crore initiative—unprecedented in scale for tribal regions in independent India. He further stated that for the first time, a national scheme has been formulated for the development of the most vulnerable tribal groups. Under the PM-JANMAN scheme, development work is being carried out in thousands of habitations of these communities.
The Prime Minister further highlighted that many individuals in Chhattisgarh who had once taken the path of violence are now surrendering rapidly. He noted that just a few days ago, more than twenty Naxalites in Kanker returned to the mainstream, and earlier, on October 17 in Bastar, over 200 Naxalites surrendered. He added that in recent months, dozens of individuals associated with Maoist terror across the country have laid down arms, many of whom had bounties worth lakhs and crores of rupees. These individuals have now accepted the Constitution of India.
Urging everyone to imagine how far Chhattisgarh has progressed over the past 25 years despite the challenge of Naxalism, and how much faster the pace will be once this challenge is fully overcome, Shri Modi emphasized that the coming years are crucial for Chhattisgarh. To build a developed India, it is essential for Chhattisgarh to be developed. Addressing the youth of the state, the Prime Minister said this is their time, and there is no goal they cannot achieve. He assured them that their government stands with them at every step and with every resolve. The Prime Minister concluded by affirming that together, we will advance Chhattisgarh and move the nation forward and extended his heartfelt best wishes to every brother and sister of Chhattisgarh.
Background
Prime Minister participated in Chhattisgarh Rajat Mahotsav, marking 25 years of formation of the State of Chhattisgarh. He inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for developmental and transformative projects worth over ₹14,260 crore, covering key sectors such as roads, industry, healthcare, and energy.
To strengthen rural livelihoods, Prime Minister inaugurated 12 new Start-Up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) blocks across nine districts of Chhattisgarh. Prime Minister participated in the Griha Pravesh of 3.51 lakh completed houses and released ₹1200 Crore as installment to 3 lakh beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), ensuring dignified housing and security for rural households across the State.
Enhancing connectivity, Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the four-lane Greenfield Highway from Pathalgaon–Kunkuri to the Chhattisgarh–Jharkhand Border, being developed under the Bharatmala Pariyojana by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at a cost of around ₹3,150 crore. This strategic corridor will connect key coal mines, industrial zones, and steel plants across Korba, Raigarh, Jashpur, Ranchi, and Jamshedpur, serving as a major economic artery that strengthens regional trade linkages and integrates Central India with the Eastern region.
In addition, Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the construction and upgradation of NH-130D (Narayanpur–Kasturmeta–Kutul–Nilangur–Maharashtra Border), spanning multiple segments across Bastar and Narayanpur districts. PM will also inaugurate the upgradation of NH-130C (Madangmuda–Deobhog–Odisha Border) into a two-lane highway with paved shoulders. These will significantly enhance road connectivity in tribal and interior regions, improving access to healthcare, education, and markets, and boosting socio-economic development in remote areas.
In the power sector, Prime Minister inaugurated the Inter-Regional ER–WR Interconnection Project, which will enhance the inter-regional power transfer capacity between the Eastern and Western grids by 1,600 MW, improving grid reliability and ensuring a stable power supply across the region.
Along with this, Prime Minister dedicated, inaugurated, and laid the foundation stone for multiple energy sector projects worth over ₹3,750 crore, aimed at strengthening Chhattisgarh’s power infrastructure, improving supply reliability, and enhancing transmission capacity.
Under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), works worth about ₹1,860 crore will be dedicated by Prime Minister, including construction of new power lines, feeder bifurcation, installation of transformers, conversion of conductors, and strengthening of low-tension networks to improve rural and agricultural power supply. Prime Minister will also inaugurate nine new power substations built at a cost of around ₹480 crore across districts such as Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Bemetara, Gariyaband, and Bastar. These will benefit over 15 lakh people by ensuring stable voltage, reducing outages, and providing reliable electricity even in remote and tribal areas. Additionally, foundation stone will be laid for new substations and transmission projects worth over ₹1,415 crore, including major facilities at Kanker and Balodabazar–Bhatapara, along with new RDSS works across several districts to further expand the reach and quality of electricity in the State.
In the petroleum and natural gas sector, Prime Minister will inaugurate HPCL’s state-of-the-art Petroleum Oil Depot at Raipur, built at a cost of over ₹460 crore with a storage capacity of 54,000 Kilolitres (KL) for petrol, diesel, and ethanol. The facility will serve as a major fuel hub, ensuring uninterrupted supply across Chhattisgarh and neighbouring states. With 10,000 KL ethanol storage, the depot also supports the Ethanol Blending Programme, reducing fossil fuel dependency and promoting cleaner energy growth.
Prime Minister will also dedicate the 489 km Nagpur–Jharsuguda Natural Gas Pipeline, built at a cost of around ₹1,950 crore. The project is a major step toward increasing the share of natural gas in India’s energy mix to 15% and achieving the vision of “One Nation, One Gas Grid.” The pipeline will connect 11 districts of Chhattisgarh to the National Gas Grid, boosting industrial development and providing cleaner and affordable fuel to the region.
To promote industrial growth and employment, Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for two Smart Industrial Areas — one at Siladehi–Gatwa–Birra in Janjgir–Champa district and another at Bijletala in Rajnandgaon district. Additionally, Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of a Pharmaceutical Park at Sector–22, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar. This park will serve as a dedicated zone for drug and healthcare manufacturing,
Boosting healthcare sector, Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for five new Government Medical Colleges — at Manendragarh, Kabirdham, Janjgir–Champa, and Geedam (Dantewada), Government Ayurveda College and Hospital at Bilaspur. These projects will strengthen medical education, expand healthcare access, and promote traditional medicine across Chhattisgarh.
डबल इंजन सरकार में छत्तीसगढ़ विकास की नित-नई ऊंचाइयों को छू रहा है। नवा रायपुर अटल नगर में छत्तीसगढ़ रजत महोत्सव में शामिल होकर अत्यंत प्रसन्नता हो रही है। जय जोहार! https://t.co/qWkIhZ0joo
छत्तीसगढ़ आज विकास के पथ पर तेज़ गति से आगे बढ़ रहा है: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/yIaUEkgWBs
हमारी कोशिश यही है कि आदिवासी समाज के योगदान का हमेशा गौरवगान होता रहे: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/fheLrSoqEs
वो दिन दूर नहीं…जब हमारा छत्तीसगढ़…हमारा देश…माओवादी आतंक से पूरी तरह मुक्त हो जाएगा: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/AyaAfyEFZL