Rural Development Gets Fresh Momentum: Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai Lays Foundation for 2,426 km of 774 Roads
781 Habitations to Receive All-Weather Road Connectivity
Raipur, April 17, 2026/
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai laid the foundation stone for 774 roads approved under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Phase-IV at a state-level programme held at Ranjita Stadium on April 17. The total length of these roads is 2,426.875 kilometres, with an estimated construction cost of Rs. 2,225.44 crore. On the occasion, the Chief Minister also announced Rs. 80 lakh for renovation of the Vashishtha Community Hall.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai stated that bhumipoojan of such a large number of roads at one time reflects the government’s strong commitment to rural development. He stated that nearly 781 habitations would receive permanent all-weather road access through these projects, bringing faster movement, better education access, healthcare services and stronger rural economic activity.
He said the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana was launched during the tenure of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, alongside the formation of Chhattisgarh, and described it as the result of his visionary leadership. He added that the scheme has now become a lifeline for rural India.
The Chief Minister further said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, road network expansion has accelerated significantly over the past decade. Through PMGSY and the PM JANMAN Yojana, most villages in the state have been connected by roads. He added that work is progressing under the Bharatmala Project on the Raipur–Visakhapatnam corridor and the Raipur–Jashpur–Dhanbad route, which will further improve connectivity and economic opportunities in the Jashpur region.
Referring to the cooperative sector, he said that 515 Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Societies (PACS) were recently launched virtually, increasing the total number of such societies in the state to 2,573. These societies will help farmers access fertilisers, seeds and short-term loans as well as simplifying paddy procurement. He added that the state government is procuring paddy at Rs. 3,100 per quintal, and before Holi, over Rs. 10,000 crore was transferred into the bank accounts of 25.28 lakh farmers.
Appealing to citizens to participate actively in the upcoming census, the Chief Minister said accurate data is the foundation of effective development planning. He also said that camps are being organised across the state under the Bijli Bill Samadhan Yojana with Rs. 757 crore in power dues being waived. He added that under the guidance of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, major progress has been made in addressing the Naxal issue, enabling faster development even in remote areas.
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma said construction of the 774 roads will begin shortly. He added that more than 1,300 roads have been completed in the state over the past two years. He also said road construction is progressing rapidly in Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group areas under the PM JANMAN Yojana, helping connect these regions with the mainstream.
Principal Secretary, Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Smt Niharika Barik, informed that under PMGSY Phase-IV, 3,065 roadless habitations have been identified across the state. Under Batch-2, proposals for 975 roads covering 2,684 kilometres for 1,000 habitations have been sent to the Central Government, while DPRs are being prepared for the remaining 1,284 habitations.
