Kumar Bahukhandi
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai addresses the Viksit Chhattisgarh Conclave 2026 in Nava Raipur on September 18, 2026 outlining the state’s development, investment, energy and tourism priorities-Photo :channel24india.com via CMO
At Viksit Chhattisgarh Conclave 2026, Chief Minister outlines Vision 2047 roadmap, ₹8.23 lakh crore investment proposals, energy expansion and Bastar’s emerging tourism potential
Raipur: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has said the state is steadily moving forward on the path of development and possesses the resources, geographical advantages and investment potential required to play an important role in achieving the national goal of a developed India by 2047.
Addressing the Viksit Chhattisgarh Conclave 2026 in Nava Raipur on Friday, September 18, 2026 Sai said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the goal of making India a developed nation by 2047 and Chhattisgarh has the capacity to make a significant contribution towards that objective. The conclave, held on September 18, focused on policy, innovation and investment as drivers of the state’s future growth.
Key Highlights
- Chhattisgarh has prepared its Vision 2047 document in line with the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal.
- CM Sai said the state currently produces about 20 per cent of India’s steel and aims to raise steel production to 45 million tonnes by 2030.
- The Chief Minister said Chhattisgarh produces around 20 per cent of the country’s coal and currently generates about 30,000 MW of electricity, with a target of 60,000 MW.
- Sai said the state’s Energy Summit attracted investment proposals worth around ₹3.5 lakh crore.
- More than ₹8.23 lakh crore in investment proposals have been received under the state’s new industrial policy.
- Power, IT, steel, textiles, pharmaceuticals and food processing are among the sectors being encouraged through investment incentives.
- Sai said Bastar should increasingly be recognised for its natural beauty, tribal culture, biodiversity, tourism and development, rather than primarily through the lens of Maoist violence.
- The Chief Minister highlighted Chhattisgarh’s central location, more than 3,500 km of national highways and expanding rail connectivity as advantages for logistics and investment.
‘All Resources Needed to Accelerate India’s Growth
Sai said Chhattisgarh possesses high-quality minerals, abundant power resources and a skilled workforce.
“Our Chhattisgarh is capable of playing an important role in realising the resolve of Viksit Bharat. We have all the necessary resources required to accelerate the country’s progress,” the Chief Minister said.
He said the state government had prepared a Viksit Chhattisgarh 2047 Vision Document and was working in mission mode, with time-bound objectives, to achieve the goals outlined in it. Contemporary coverage of the conclave also confirms that the Chief Minister presented the state’s Vision 2047 roadmap during the programme.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai (C) and other dignitaries release the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan – 25 Years of Service’ booklet at the Viksit Chhattisgarh Conclave 2026 in Nava Raipur on September 18. Special Secretary to the Chief Minister and Public Relations Commissioner Rajat Bansal is seen at the extreme right. Photo:channel24india.com via CMO
Referring to Chhattisgarh’s industrial strength, Sai said the state currently accounts for about 20 per cent of India’s steel production. He cited the use of steel produced in Chhattisgarh in the Chenab railway bridge and said the state has set a target of increasing steel production to 45 million tonnes by 2030.
Turning to the energy sector, the Chief Minister said Chhattisgarh produces around 20 per cent of the country’s coal and generates approximately 30,000 MW of electricity. He said investment proposals worth around ₹3.5 lakh crore had been received during the state’s Energy Summit and that work was progressing towards eventually achieving 60,000 MW of power generation.
₹8.23 Lakh Crore Investment Proposals
Sai attributed the expansion of Chhattisgarh’s core sectors partly to the state’s new industrial policy, saying investors were being offered incentives covering capital investment, interest, technology acquisition and stamp duty.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai receives a framed presentation during the Viksit Chhattisgarh Conclave 2026 in Nava Raipur on September 18. The previous day, the State’s ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ initiative was recognised by the Golden Book of World Records after more than 25 lakh diyas were reported lit in Raipur. Photo:channel24india.com via CMO
The government is particularly seeking investment in sectors including power, information technology, steel, textiles, pharmaceuticals and food processing.
“Under the new industrial policy, we have so far received investment proposals worth more than ₹8.23 lakh crore,” Sai said.
The ₹8.23 lakh crore figure has also been cited in other recent accounts of the state’s investment drive.
Bastar’s New Identity: Nature, Culture and Tourism
A substantial part of the Chief Minister’s address focused on Bastar and the government’s assessment of the changing security and development environment in the region.
Sai said Bastar had suffered from Maoist violence for decades and argued that changing conditions were now opening opportunities for development and eco-tourism.
“Bastar should now be known not for Naxalism, but for its nature, culture, tourism and development. This should be an effort in which all of us participate,” Sai said.
He said Bastar’s natural landscape, rich tribal culture and biodiversity had not received adequate national attention because the region’s public image had long been dominated by reports of violence and Maoist activity.
According to the Chief Minister, expansion of roads, communications, education, healthcare and other infrastructure is creating new possibilities for tourism.
Sai also called upon the media to help take stories about Bastar’s natural beauty, culture and changing conditions to national and international audiences.
“When positive stories about Bastar’s natural beauty, culture and tourist destinations reach the country through national and international media, people’s perception of Bastar will also change,” he said.
He said greater tourism could strengthen the local economy by generating opportunities in hotels, homestays, transport, local cuisine, handicrafts and guide services, while providing employment and self-employment opportunities particularly for local youth and women.
The state government, he added, wants tourists from India and abroad to be able to visit Bastar without fear and experience its landscape and distinctive culture.
Location Gives Chhattisgarh a Logistics Advantage
Sai also highlighted Chhattisgarh’s geographical position in central India, saying more than 3,500 kilometres of national highways and an expanding railway network provide the state with significant logistical advantages.
He said its location makes supplying goods to different parts of India comparatively convenient and referred to the state’s logistics policy as part of the government’s effort to capitalise on that advantage.
The Chief Minister also spoke about Prime Minister Modi’s 25 years in public office, describing the period as centred on service, governance, welfare and nation-building, and referred to government programmes in housing, drinking water, electricity, healthcare, sanitation, financial inclusion and infrastructure.
During the programme, Sai also released the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan – 25 Years of Service’ booklet.
Chief Minister’s adviser R. Krishna Das and Public Relations Commissioner Rajat Bansal, along with other dignitaries, were present on the occasion.
