Kumar Bahukhandi
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has taken cognisance of a viral video highlighting the poor condition of a road at Kharsia Chowk in Ambikapur and directed Surguja Collector Ajit Vasant to ensure immediate corrective measures. The Chief Minister has also instructed collectors across the State to personally inspect vulnerable stretches where necessary and keep under-construction and rain-damaged roads motorable during the monsoon. ( File Photo)
Chief Minister speaks to Surguja Collector Ajit Vasant, orders immediate repairs at Kharsia Chowk and directs district administrations across Chhattisgarh to personally inspect vulnerable and under-construction roads
Key Highlights
- CM Vishnu Deo Sai takes cognisance of a viral video showing the poor condition of the road at Kharsia Chowk, Ambikapur.
- Speaks directly to Surguja Collector Ajit Vasant and orders an immediate inspection.
- Directs authorities to fill potholes, level the road and improve drainage at the affected stretch.
- All collectors told to personally inspect vulnerable roads where necessary and regularly monitor construction works.
- Damaged and under-construction roads must remain motorable during the monsoon.
- Warning signs, barricades and alternative traffic arrangements to be provided at dangerous stretches.
- District administrations must coordinate with National Highways authorities, PWD, urban bodies and other agencies instead of allowing jurisdiction to delay action.
- Permanent road construction and repairs to be accelerated immediately after the rainy season and completed within stipulated timelines.
Raipur: A viral video showing commuters struggling with the poor condition of a road at Kharsia Chowk in Ambikapur has prompted direct intervention from Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, here on Monday , September 14, 2026 has ordered immediate corrective measures and widened the directive to cover under-construction and rain-damaged roads across the State.
Taking cognisance of the video, Sai spoke to Surguja Collector Ajit Vasant over the telephone, sought details about the situation and directed him to inspect the affected stretch and ensure that urgent repairs were carried out.
The Chief Minister ordered the administration to fill large potholes at Kharsia Chowk, level damaged portions and improve drainage so that waterlogging does not further disrupt traffic.
Where traffic pressure is high, the district administration has been asked to coordinate with the police and traffic authorities to ensure safe and uninterrupted movement.
Viral Video Leads to Statewide Directive
Sai did not restrict his intervention to the Ambikapur road.
He directed all district collectors in Chhattisgarh to regularly monitor under-construction roads in their respective districts and, wherever necessary, personally visit affected locations rather than depend solely on departmental reports.
“During the monsoon, citizens should not face unnecessary difficulties in commuting because of the poor condition of roads,” Sai said.
Collectors have been asked to coordinate with the departments and construction agencies concerned and ensure that roads remain motorable even where permanent construction or repair work cannot practically be completed during heavy rains.
The directive covers roads under the National Highways authorities, Public Works Department, urban local bodies and other agencies, with district administrations expected to coordinate across departmental jurisdictions instead of allowing responsibility disputes to delay relief to commuters.
Potholes, Waterlogging and Dangerous Stretches on Priority
The Chief Minister has asked districts to remain particularly alert to locations where damaged roads, ongoing construction, waterlogging or erosion around bridges and culverts could disrupt traffic or create accident risks.
Immediate measures are to include pothole filling, temporary levelling, drainage improvement, warning signs, barricading and safe alternative traffic arrangements wherever required.
The emphasis is on ensuring that practical difficulties associated with road construction during the rainy season do not become a reason for leaving dangerous stretches unattended.
Sai also directed collectors to identify major roads carrying heavy traffic and construction stretches requiring closer supervision and review their condition regularly.
The intervention following the Ambikapur video therefore sends a wider administrative message: complaints visible on the ground — including those drawing public attention through social media — should lead to inspection and corrective action rather than wait for the end of the monsoon.
Construction Push After the Rains
While immediate measures will focus on keeping roads safe and usable during the rainy season, Sai directed officials to accelerate permanent construction and repair work as soon as the monsoon ends.
District administrations have been asked to prepare action plans with construction agencies so that sanctioned and ongoing road projects can be completed within prescribed timelines and with the required quality standards.
The Chief Minister said prolonged construction should not subject residents and commuters to avoidable inconvenience.
Continuous monitoring, coordination between agencies and time-bound execution will therefore be expected once weather conditions permit full-scale construction.
The Ambikapur episode has effectively turned a local viral complaint into a State-wide road monitoring directive, placing responsibility on collectors to know the condition of important roads in their districts and intervene before damaged or unfinished stretches become a serious public-safety problem.
