Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday sought special relaxations in the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) guidelines to accelerate road construction in Bastar, saying the region has become Naxal-free after decades of insurgency and now requires stronger connectivity to support development.
Sai, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, met Union Rural Development and Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi to discuss infrastructure needs in the region.
Speaking after the meeting, Sai said Bastar had emerged from nearly four to five decades of Left-wing extremism and now needed improved road connectivity to integrate remote areas with the mainstream.
"After 40-50 years, our Bastar region has finally become Naxal-free, and there is a great need for development there. Connectivity is crucial from a development perspective," he said.
The Chief Minister said Chhattisgarh had benefited substantially under PMGSY but noted that Bastar's sparse population spread across vast and difficult terrain makes it challenging to meet the scheme's existing population criteria for road construction.
He urged the Centre to relax these norms to improve access to remote habitations. Sai said Union Minister Chouhan had responded positively and assured him that the matter would be considered.
Chouhan said the Centre was planning a "different type of road network" for Bastar, acknowledging that conventional PMGSY norms may not adequately address the region's unique geographical and demographic conditions.
He said special consideration was being explored to ensure road connectivity reaches low-density settlements and supports development in the peaceful region.
The Union Minister also praised the Chhattisgarh government's implementation of rural development programmes, highlighting progress under the PM Awas Yojana, increased rural wages and other welfare initiatives.
He expressed confidence that enhanced infrastructure and targeted policy support would help transform Bastar into a region of sustained growth and development.
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