Kumar Bahukhandi
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Home Minister Vijay Sharma meet Union Rural Development and Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi on Friday July 31, 2026 , urging the Centre to introduce an Arunachal Pradesh-style 10-km cluster provision under PMGSY-IV to improve road connectivity in Bastar’s remote tribal villages-Photo Credit-channel24india.com via CG/PR
Key Factors
- Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai seeks an Arunachal Pradesh-style 10-km cluster norm for Bastar under PMGSY-IV.
- Proposal aims to connect remote tribal villages currently excluded under the existing 500-metre cluster rule.
- Union Rural Development and Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan assures positive consideration.
- State says improved roads will boost education, healthcare, employment, agriculture and delivery of welfare schemes.
- Centre appreciates Chhattisgarh’s rural development initiatives, including Jiramji Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
- Union Minister praises the state’s achievement of constructing around 1,500 PMAY houses daily.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai urges Centre to adopt a 10-km cluster norm for remote tribal villages; Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan assures positive consideration
New Delhi/Raipur: Seeking to accelerate infrastructure development in Bastar’s remote tribal belt, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday July 31, 2026 urged the Union Government to introduce a special provision under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-IV) on the lines of the Arunachal Pradesh model, enabling more villages in the region to be connected through all-weather roads.
The proposal was placed before Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan during a meeting in New Delhi. State Home Minister Vijay Sharma, senior officials from the Union Ministry of Rural Development and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Subodh Singh were also present.
Chief Minister Sai explained that Bastar’s unique geographical conditions—dense forests, hilly terrain and scattered tribal settlements—make it difficult to connect villages under the existing PMGSY norms.
“Bastar is emerging from decades of Left Wing Extremism and moving steadily towards development. Strengthening road connectivity at this stage is essential for ensuring inclusive growth,” the Chief Minister said.
Proposal for a 10-km Cluster Model
Under the current PMGSY guidelines, only habitations located within a 500-metre radius are treated as a single cluster for road connectivity.
Chief Minister Sai requested that, similar to the special provision available for Arunachal Pradesh, habitations within a 10-kilometre radius in Bastar should be considered as one cluster under PMGSY-IV.
He said such a relaxation would enable hundreds of small and isolated tribal villages to become eligible for road connectivity.
“Roads are not merely a means of transportation; they are the foundation of development, security and prosperity. Bastar’s unique geographical conditions deserve a special policy approach,” Sai said while urging the Centre to accord priority to the proposal.
Roads to Drive Development in Bastar
The Chief Minister emphasized that improved road connectivity would provide easier access to education, healthcare, agricultural markets, employment opportunities and government welfare schemes for people living in remote villages.
He noted that better infrastructure would also strengthen administrative outreach and support the ongoing transformation of Bastar into a region driven by peace and development.
Officials said expanding road networks in inaccessible areas remains one of the state’s key priorities for achieving balanced regional development.
Centre Responds Positively
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan assured the Chief Minister that the proposal would receive serious consideration.
“The Government of India is committed to the development of remote and tribal regions like Bastar. The proposal submitted by the Chhattisgarh Government will be examined and necessary action will be taken,” Chouhan assured during the meeting.
The Union Minister also appreciated the progress made by the Chhattisgarh Government in rural development.
He praised the implementation of the Jiramji Yojana, particularly works related to community cremation grounds and sanitation infrastructure, and commended the state’s performance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
“The construction of nearly 1,500 houses every day under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is a remarkable achievement,” Chouhan observed.
Expressing confidence in continued Centre-State cooperation, he said coordinated efforts would further accelerate development across Bastar and the rest of Chhattisgarh.
