Historic initiative to connect Bastar by rail gets approval: Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav

Raipur 8 May 2025: The Ministry of Railways, Government of India has approved the Raoghat-Jagdalpur new rail line (140 km) project. The project will cost Rs 3513.11 crore, which will be borne from the central budget. This decision will prove to be a milestone in the social, economic and industrial development of the Bastar region. Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai has expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav on behalf of the people of Chhattisgarh, who have taken steps towards realizing this long-awaited dream of connecting the remote and tribal districts of Bastar with the rail network. This project will transform Bastar. The Raoghat-Jagdalpur rail line will not only give backward districts like Kondagaon and Narayanpur a place on the rail map for the first time, but it will also increase the possibilities of travel, tourism and business in tribal areas. This railway route will make direct access of tourists to the beautiful valleys, historical sites and tribal culture of Bastar possible, which will give a tremendous boost to local employment and tourism industry.

Economy will get new momentum Rail connectivity will lead to a vast improvement in the transportation of mineral resources, access to local products, and logistics network. It will help connect regional industries and farmers to the national market. Land acquisition work towards completion – work will start soon Land acquisition work for the proposed rail line is nearing completion, which will not create any hindrance in the implementation of the project. This ensures that the construction work can be started soon and completed within the stipulated time frame. It is noteworthy that the dream of development of Bastar, which was cherished for years under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai, is now coming true with the Raoghat Jagdalpur rail line project. The approval given to the Raoghat-Jagdalpur rail line is a symbol of the government’s emotional commitment to the people of Bastar and the fulfillment of the promise of development. This railway line is not just a transport network for Bastar, but a new lifeline, which will connect people with better opportunities for education, health, business and tourism. With this, districts like Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Kanker, which are comparatively far from the mainstream of development even today, will now be directly connected to the stream of national development.

This rail project will also play an important role in the eradication of Naxalism. When development reaches every village, when the youth get employment, and when facilities are available to connect the tribal communities to the mainstream, then violence and fear will be replaced by hope and trust. The land of Bastar was waiting for years for someone to listen to it, understand it and remove its pain. Today, when the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister themselves are concerned about Bastar, it is not just the beginning of a project, but the beginning of a new era, in which every village of Bastar will run on the track of development. Bastar is now going through a historic phase of change under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai. By approving the Raoghat-Jagdalpur railway line, the central government has given a clear indication that development will no longer be limited to cities, but its reach will be ensured to the forest areas, valleys and tribal areas of Bastar. This project is a decisive step to realize the years-old expectation of the people of Bastar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has clearly set the goal of eradicating Naxalism by March 2026. In this direction, Union Home Minister Amit Shah himself has made it clear by visiting Bastar and participating in events like ‘Bastar Pandum’ that now there will be an era of development and not Naxalism in Bastar. This railway line will further strengthen the decisive and positive presence of the government in Naxal-affected areas. The Raoghat-Jagdalpur railway line will not only put tribal districts like Kondagaon, Narayanpur and Kanker on the rail map, but will also create opportunities for local trade, tourism, exploitation of mineral resources and employment for the youth. This project will bring to life the tripartite mantra of peace, security and inclusive development on the ground. The land of Bastar will no longer be a symbol of violence and neglect, but will become a land of hope, opportunity and progress. When the Chief Minister himself is sitting in Chaupals and listening to the villagers and the Prime Minister and the Home Minister are working understanding the basic spirit of development of the people of Bastar—then it is clear that Bastar is no longer in a corner, but is playing a central role in national development. This project is not only a symbol of expansion of rail projects in Bastar, but it is also a strong example of inclusive development in the new India – where development is no longer limited to cities, but is also reaching the forests and mountains of remote areas like Bastar.