Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Tuesday to present him with a Bastar 2.0 development blueprint, aimed at transformation of the once Naxal-infested region into a hub for infrastructure expansion, innovation-led growth, start-ups and tourism. Bastar was recently declared as free from Left-wing extremism after all CPI(Maoist) leaders of standing were either eliminated or chose to surrender. The region, which had borne the brunt of Naxal violence for decades, depriving the local tribals of benefits of development and welfare schemes, is now the focus of a major development and welfare push. Presenting a forward-looking vision for Bastar’s development, Sai, during discussions with the prime minister, highlighted the region’s growth potential and outlined a transformative approach to accelerate economic progress and improve the quality of life of its people.The chief minister also invited the prime minister to visit Bastar during the monsoon season, for laying foundation stones of several projects and inaugurating key initiatives aimed at ushering in a new era of growth. The projects include the Raoghat–Jagdalpur railway line, expansion of Jagdalpur airport, a super-specialty hospital, a medical college in Dantewada, and the development of ‘education cities’ in Jagargunda and Orchha.The Bastar blueprint, Sai underlined, is built around the core strategy of “saturate, connect, facilitate, empower, and engage”. “This approach aims to ensure rapid and inclusive expansion of basic infrastructure and essential services across the region. A key focus is on integrating remote and previously isolated villages into the mainstream through a robust road network….the plan includes the construction of 228 new roads and 267 bridges,” a Chhattisgarh govt official told TOI.To boost livelihoods, the state government has outlined a focused three-year plan aimed at doubling household incomes. The objective is to raise the monthly earnings of nearly 85% of families from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 by 2029, thereby improving overall economic stability in the region.In the tourism sector, key destinations such as Chitrakote and Tirathgarh Waterfalls, along with Kanger Valley National Park, are being developed with enhanced infrastructure and visitor facilities. Adventure tourism projects, including a canopy walk and a glass bridge, are also underway to attract a wider range of tourists.
