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For the first time, the Chhattisgarh government has taken a bold step to bring large-scale investments to the tribal region of Bastar. At an Investor Connect meet held in Jagdalpur, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced development projects worth an impressive ₹52,000 crore—a mix of public investments and anticipated private capital aimed at turning Bastar into a future hub for manufacturing, services, and logistics.
A New Era of Infrastructure
Officials outlined a sweeping infrastructure plan to make Bastar “investment-ready.”
• Railways: Projects worth over ₹5,200 crore, including the critical Rowghat–Jagdalpur line and the doubling of the Kottavalasa–Kirandul line, will ease freight movement and improve passenger travel.
• Roads: ₹2,300 crore is allocated to create an alternative corridor from Dhamtari to Jagdalpur via key towns like Kanker and Kondagaon, while new links to Sukma and Bijapur are also planned.
• Air Connectivity: Maa Danteshwari Airport is being upgraded under the UDAN scheme, and a network of new mobile towers will enhance digital access in remote areas.
Major Investments and Job Creation
The meet generated immediate proposals of ₹967 crore across healthcare, agriculture, food processing, and allied sectors—expected to create 2,100+ jobs.
• Healthcare: Raipur Stone Clinic Pvt. Ltd. will build Bastar’s first 350-bed multi-specialty private hospital with a medical college at a cost of ₹550 crore, creating 200 jobs. Other projects include a ₹33-crore multi-specialty hospital and a 200-bed medical institute with an ₹85 crore investment.
• Industry & Agriculture: A ₹40-crore surgical-gloves manufacturing unit is planned, alongside dairy and agri-based enterprises. Warehousing and cold-chain facilities in Kanker, Bhanupratappur, and Kondagaon will help farmers cut spoilage and secure better prices.
• Tourism & Wellness: New hospitality projects and a ₹7.65-crore wellness centre will showcase Bastar’s forests and cultural heritage.
Security and Social Progress
This economic vision is backed by improved security and community services. In the last 20 months, more than 65 new security camps have been established. Since December 2023, 453 Naxals have been killed, 1,611 arrested, and 1,636 have surrendered, giving investors greater confidence. The flagship “Niyad Nellanar” scheme has brought roads, schools, health facilities, and communication networks to remote corners, issuing thousands of identity and health cards and reopening over 50 closed schools.
A Turning Point for Bastar
With the National Mineral Development Corporation investing ₹43,000 crore and multiple private players stepping in, Bastar is on the brink of a historic transformation. “Bastar’s prosperity will script the bright future of Chhattisgarh,” CM Sai declared, reflecting a broader goal to shift Bastar from the margins of the state’s economy to its vibrant center.
This combination of massive infrastructure upgrades, private enterprise, and improved security signals a new chapter for Chhattisgarh’s tribal heartland—one where opportunity, investment, and growth can flourish side by side.