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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Rail network to reach Naxal-hit Bastar, location survey in concluding stage
A railway line in Naxal-affected Bastar in Chhattisgarh is on the verge of becoming a reality after the final location survey was conducted for the proposed 160-km railway track connecting the remote region in Chhattisgarh with Telangana. This ambitious project will bring the Naxal-affected districts of Sukma, Dantewada and Bijapur into the railway network for the first time, officials said on Friday. The final location survey for the proposed 160 km-long railway line from Kothagudem (Telangana) to Kirandul (Chhattisgarh) has entered its concluding stage. The Indian Railways is conducting the survey using cutting-edge LiDAR technology, and the entire process is being closely monitored by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, given its immense significance for both national security and regional development, officials said. With strong support from the Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai-led state government, the survey work has gained momentum once again. The project aims to open new paths of education, healthcare, trade, and self-reliance for the people of Bastar. The railway line will span three states -- Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh -- but the largest portion of over 138 km lies within Chhattisgarh, covering some of the most remote and underdeveloped tribal areas, they said. While survey work has progressed rapidly in many sections, it has faced hurdles in Dantewada and Bijapur. On June 9 this year, a survey team was stopped and assaulted by local villagers in Dantewada, halting work in a 26-km stretch in Dantewada and 35 km in Bijapur. The incident was reported to the local administration, but the work remains incomplete in those parts. Officials said only after the final location survey is completed can the Detailed Project Report (DPR) be prepared, which is essential to initiate construction. This is why the Union government considers the project not merely a transport initiative but a strategic intervention for lasting peace and inclusive development in the region. According to a letter dated June 26, 2025, from Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar to the chief secretary of Chhattisgarh, the project is now at a decisive juncture. The LiDAR survey, conducted via drones and aircraft, helps accurately map the terrain, including hills, rivers, and vegetation, ensuring a safe and precise alignment for the railway line. Once the survey is completed, Indian Railways will finalise the DPR and move toward laying tracks. There have been concerns of local villagers, mostly tribal residents, about losing land or forests. However, the Chhattisgarh government has assured that the railway will bring opportunities, not harm. Instructions have already been issued to the collectors of Dantewada and Bijapur to fully support the survey teams, officials said. The government considers the railway line not just as a development project, but also as a decisive step in eliminating Naxalism from the region, officials said. For decades, large parts of Bastar have remained isolated from mainstream progress, becoming vulnerable to extremist ideologies. The arrival of a railway will not only improve connectivity but also establish a permanent presence of governance, trust, and stability in these areas, which is why the Union Home Ministry is directly monitoring the project, officials said. For farmers, the railway line will be a lifeline providing easy access to markets for their produce such as paddy, mahua, tendu leaves, and bamboo, ultimately boosting incomes and encouraging economic independence, they said. Tribal communities, long cut off from the rest of the country, will gain access to schools, hospitals, and employment through a reliable transport network. Besides, children will reach schools more safely and swiftly, patients will get medical help on time, and youth will find new pathways for jobs and skill training, officials said.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Rail network set to reach Naxal-hit Bastar as location survey nears completion
A railway line in Naxal-affected Bastar in Chhattisgarh is on the verge of becoming a reality after the final location survey was conducted for the proposed 160-km railway track connecting the remote region in Chhattisgarh with Telangana. This ambitious project will bring the Naxal-affected districts of Sukma, Dantewada and Bijapur into the railway network for the first time, officials said on Friday. The final location survey for the proposed 160 km-long railway line from Kothagudem (Telangana) to Kirandul (Chhattisgarh) has entered its concluding stage. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Phum Bei: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo The Indian Railways is conducting the survey using cutting-edge LiDAR technology, and the entire process is being closely monitored by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, given its immense significance for both national security and regional development, officials said. With strong support from the Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai-led state government, the survey work has gained momentum once again. Live Events The project aims to open new paths of education, healthcare, trade, and self-reliance for the people of Bastar. The railway line will span three states -- Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh -- but the largest portion of over 138 km lies within Chhattisgarh, covering some of the most remote and underdeveloped tribal areas, they said. While survey work has progressed rapidly in many sections, it has faced hurdles in Dantewada and Bijapur. On June 9 this year, a survey team was stopped and assaulted by local villagers in Dantewada, halting work in a 26-km stretch in Dantewada and 35 km in Bijapur. The incident was reported to the local administration, but the work remains incomplete in those parts. Officials said only after the final location survey is completed can the Detailed Project Report (DPR) be prepared, which is essential to initiate construction. This is why the Union government considers the project not merely a transport initiative but a strategic intervention for lasting peace and inclusive development in the region. According to a letter dated June 26, 2025, from Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar to the chief secretary of Chhattisgarh, the project is now at a decisive juncture. The LiDAR survey, conducted via drones and aircraft, helps accurately map the terrain, including hills, rivers, and vegetation, ensuring a safe and precise alignment for the railway line. Once the survey is completed, Indian Railways will finalise the DPR and move toward laying tracks. There have been concerns of local villagers, mostly tribal residents, about losing land or forests. However, the Chhattisgarh government has assured that the railway will bring opportunities, not harm. Instructions have already been issued to the collectors of Dantewada and Bijapur to fully support the survey teams, officials said. The government considers the railway line not just as a development project, but also as a decisive step in eliminating Naxalism from the region, officials said. For decades, large parts of Bastar have remained isolated from mainstream progress, becoming vulnerable to extremist ideologies. The arrival of a railway will not only improve connectivity but also establish a permanent presence of governance, trust, and stability in these areas, which is why the Union Home Ministry is directly monitoring the project, officials said. For farmers, the railway line will be a lifeline providing easy access to markets for their produce such as paddy, mahua, tendu leaves, and bamboo, ultimately boosting incomes and encouraging economic independence, they said. Tribal communities, long cut off from the rest of the country, will gain access to schools, hospitals, and employment through a reliable transport network. Besides, children will reach schools more safely and swiftly, patients will get medical help on time, and youth will find new pathways for jobs and skill training, officials said.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Farmers & teachers being neglected by Sai govt: Pilot
Raipur: AICC general secretary Sachin Pilot accused the Vishnu Deo Sai-led Chhattisgarh govt of losing public trust, failing farmers, misusing agencies, and silencing dissent, while alleging central control over state affairs and discontinuation of welfare schemes. He announced the July 7 'Kisan, Jawan, Samvidhan Jan Sabha' in Raipur, asserting Congress will hit the streets to become the people's voice against BJP misgovernance. The Chhattisgarh Congress in-charge, Pilot, currently on a visit to Raipur, said on Tuesday that the Vishnu Deo Sai-led government has has "no achievements to showcase." He criticised the frequent visits by the PM and home minister to "pat their own backs". You Can Also Check: Raipur AQI | Weather in Raipur | Bank Holidays in Raipur | Public Holidays in Raipur Pilot highlighted a severe shortage of fertilisers across the state, claiming farmers have been abandoned. He questioned the accountability for the farmers' plight, given the BJP's 'double-engine govt' rhetoric. Severe shortage of DAP fertiliser across the state causing distress among farmers, said Pilot adding, in place of DAP sunstandard Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (NPK) fertiliser is being supplied. The Congress leader further stated the state govt has secured loans worth Rs 37,000 crore with central assistance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Balintawak: Scholarships You Can Apply For (Start Now) College Scholarship | Google Search Search Now Undo He also highlighted the alleged injustice faced by teachers in the guise of rationalisation. Over 10,000 schools are on the verge of closure, he claimed. Pilot clarified that the party supports industry and investment but opposes displacing poor tribal communities from their homes. Addressing the media at Congress state office Rajiv Bhawan in Raipur, Pilot alleged that the BJP government has discontinued 17 schemes launched by the previous Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government, solely to deny credit to the Congress. Pilot announced that Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge and AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal will visit Chhattisgarh on July 7. Kharge will address a public rally at Science College Ground in Raipur, named 'Kisan, Jawan, Samvidhan Jan Sabha' (Farmers, Soldiers, Constitution Public Meeting). Pilot criticised the Sai government for holding fewer Assembly sessions and being evasive in its responses. He alleged that the Sai govt prevents impartial discussions in the House because it has 'much to hide.'
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Campaign to improve edu in govt schools approved
1 2 3 Raipur: The chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai-led cabinet on Wednesday approved the launch of the ' Mukhyamantri Shiksha Gunvatta Abhiyan ,' (CM Education Quality Campaign), which will be aimed at improving the quality of education in govt schools in the state. The programme will focus on classroom teaching reforms, active parent-teacher engagement, school performance audits, and training visits for teachers from underperforming schools. Detailed guidelines for the campaign will be issued by the school education Sai chaired the cabinet meeting at the Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan in Nava Raipur, where several important decisions were taken to improve education quality, boost industrial investment, and support artists and writers in financial Assistance For Artists & WritersThe cabinet increased the monthly pension for financially weak artists and writers from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000. This is the first hike in 12 years under the financial assistance scheme managed by the culture department. The number of beneficiaries is currently 162, and the total annual cost to the state is expected to rise from Rs 38.88 lakh to Rs 97.20 Allocation Made More Accessible For InvestorsTo promote investment and industrial growth, the cabinet approved amendments to the Chhattisgarh Industrial Land and Building Management Rules, 2015. The changes are intended to make the land allocation process more transparent and accessible for cabinet also approved several key amendments to the state's Industrial Policy 2024–30, which are aimed at increasing employment, promoting high-tech agriculture, strengthening education and training infrastructure, and encouraging investments across key Employing Locals Will Receive AidUnder the new policy, companies that employ local residents will receive financial support from the govt. This is expected to boost job creation for the youth across the modernize agriculture, the govt will now promote advanced techniques like hydroponics and aeroponics. Officials said that farmers will also benefit from the integration of automation and Internet of Things (IoT) technology. Additionally, the govt said that it will promote the establishment of quality universities to improve higher education standards. The state also plans to support sports academies and private training repair and service centers will be recognized in all development block groups, enhancing access to technical services in rural and semi-urban Threshhold For Building Hotels ReducedTourism is another key focus. The minimum investment threshold for building hotels and resorts in Bastar and Surguja regions has been reduced. This is expected to boost tourism and generate local employment in these tribal and forested textile sector will receive double the incentives for new investments—up to 200%—which will directly benefit tailors, embroiderers, and weavers across the state. To improve ease of doing business, a new logistics policy will be introduced, aiming to simplify freight movement and improve access. Special packages have been approved for sectors such as Global Capability Centers, defense and aerospace, as well as private industrial parks. The govt will increase infrastructure subsidies and encourage development of plug-and-play factory models to attract For Pvt CBSE Schools ApprovedTo improve the ease of living, the cabinet approved incentives for setting up private CBSE-affiliated schools with a minimum capacity of 500 students and mini malls with multiplexes in urban areas and nearby rural blocks that currently lack such facilities. The first three units established in these underserved areas will be treated as 'thrust sector' projects, receiving special definition of persons with disabilities (Divyangjan) has also been revised to expand their eligibility for welfare schemes.
