On Chhattisgarh’s Foundation Day, PM Modi inaugurates projects worth ₹14,260 crore

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over ₹14,260 crore in Chhattisgarh as the state celebrated its 25th Foundation Day. The projects, spanning key sectors like infrastructure, power, housing, and healthcare, aim to transform the state’s development landscape, generate employment, and improve living standards across both rural and urban areas.

Addressing the Rajat Mahotsav celebrations in Raipur, the Prime Minister said the new initiatives represent the Centre’s commitment to “accelerating growth and empowering every citizen of Chhattisgarh.” He also inaugurated the new building of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly and unveiled a statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whose leadership was instrumental in the creation of the state in 2000.

Among the major announcements was the foundation stone for the four-lane Greenfield Highway from Pathalgaon-Kunkuri to the Chhattisgarh-Jharkhand border, being developed under the Bharatmala Pariyojana at a cost of ₹3,150 crore. The corridor will enhance connectivity between coal mines, industrial zones, and steel plants across Korba, Raigarh, Jashpur, Ranchi, and Jamshedpur, serving as a vital economic link between Central and Eastern India.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated and laid foundation stones for several other road projects, including NH-130D (Narayanpur-Kasturmeta-Kutul-Nilangur-Maharashtra border) and NH-130C (Madangmuda-Deobhog-Odisha border). These routes are expected to improve access in tribal and interior regions, linking remote communities with healthcare, markets, and educational opportunities.

In the power sector, PM Modi inaugurated the Inter-Regional ER-WR Interconnection Project, which increases the power transfer capacity between the Eastern and Western grids by 1,600 MW, ensuring better grid stability and reliability. He also dedicated projects worth over ₹3,750 crore, including nine new power substations constructed at a cost of ₹480 crore across Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Bemetara, Gariyaband, and Bastar, benefiting more than 15 lakh people. Under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), works worth ₹1,860 crore were launched to modernize rural networks and strengthen electricity distribution systems.

In the petroleum and natural gas sector, the Prime Minister inaugurated HPCL’s Petroleum Oil Depot in Raipur, built at a cost of ₹460 crore with a total storage capacity of 54,000 kilolitres, including 10,000 KL for ethanol. The facility will serve as a major fuel hub for the region and support India’s Ethanol Blending Programme, promoting cleaner energy and reducing fossil fuel dependency.

He also dedicated the 489-km Nagpur–Jharsuguda Natural Gas Pipeline worth ₹1,950 crore, connecting 11 districts of Chhattisgarh to the National Gas Grid. This project will provide cleaner and more affordable fuel for industries and households, furthering India’s goal of raising natural gas use to 15% of its energy mix.

To drive industrial and employment growth, PM Modi laid the foundation stones for two Smart Industrial Areas, one at Siladehi-Gatwa-Birra in Janjgir-Champa district and another at Bijletala in Rajnandgaon district, along with a Pharmaceutical Park at Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, which will become a hub for drug and healthcare manufacturing.

In the housing sector, the Prime Minister participated in the Griha Pravesh of 3.51 lakh houses built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) and released ₹1,200 crore as an installment for 3 lakh beneficiaries, enabling thousands of rural families to own secure and dignified homes.

To strengthen healthcare, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for five new government medical colleges in Manendragarh, Kabirdham, Janjgir-Champa, and Geedam (Dantewada), as well as a Government Ayurveda College and Hospital in Bilaspur. These projects aim to expand medical education and improve healthcare access across Chhattisgarh’s districts.

He also inaugurated 12 new Start-Up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) blocks across nine districts to promote rural entrepreneurship, encouraging small-scale innovation and self-employment.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai presented a traditional gamcha to the Prime Minister as a token of respect on this landmark occasion. As Chhattisgarh celebrates its silver jubilee, these new projects stand as a blueprint for the state’s next phase of growth, one that connects, empowers, and energizes every corner of its diverse landscape.