Team News Riveting
Raipur, January 6
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai chaired a high-level review meeting on January 6 at Mahanadi Bhawan to assess the development of Bilaspur Municipal Corporation and its surrounding areas.
During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on ongoing and proposed development works, expansion of basic urban amenities, and the progress of projects under implementation in Bilaspur city and its peripheral regions. The Chief Minister stated that “Nyayadhani” Bilaspur is the second-largest city of Chhattisgarh, and in view of rapid urbanisation, “balanced, inclusive and planned development” of the city is essential.
Chief Minister Sai stated that Chhattisgarh is moving rapidly on the path of development, and accordingly, urban infrastructure will be strengthened systematically. He directed officials to ensure that all ongoing schemes are completed within the specified time frame with high-quality standards. Emphasising the importance of a clean and regular drinking water supply, he instructed officials to work with utmost seriousness on water-related projects. The Chief Minister also stated that Bilaspur should be given priority from the perspectives of industry and tourism when preparing development plans. He informed that over the past two years, the government has continuously approved new development works. He added that the forthcoming budget will be highly significant and will play a key role in realising the vision of “Viksit Chhattisgarh.” Shri Sai stressed that better outcomes can be achieved only through inter-departmental coordination and assured that there would be no shortfall in the development of cities as well as villages.
During the meeting, point-wise deliberations were held on roads, bridges and culverts, drinking water, drainage, pollution-free city initiatives, traffic management, education, health, sports and youth welfare, housing, e-bus services, air connectivity, transport nagar, industry and trade, tourism, and the Arpa Special Area Development Project (Arpa SADA). Consensus was reached on several key issues. It was decided to expedite the process of issuing administrative approval (AS) for the new hospital building of CIMS and to operate the Super Speciality Hospital under the PPP mode. Information was shared regarding the transfer of funds to the Defence authorities for the expansion of Bilaspur Airport, for which public representatives expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister. Instructions were also issued to expedite other airport development works and to commence night landing facilities as soon as possible.
It was agreed that the development work of Transport Nagar at Silpahari would be undertaken by CSIDC, and necessary applications for land would be submitted accordingly. A decision was taken to accelerate the land acquisition process for the Usalapur Railway Overbridge and to include the project in the upcoming budget.
Additionally, instructions were issued to prepare DPRs for the construction of flyovers worth Rs 305 crore from Rajiv Gandhi Chowk, Nehru Chowk and Mahamaya Chowk (Y-shaped) up to the Ratanpur Road, a Rs 115 crore flyover at Purana Bus Stand Chowk covering CMD Chowk–Imli Para Road–Tagore Chowk–Jagmal Chowk, and a Rs 320 crore Tarbahar four-lane Railway Overbridge to connect the FCI godown and Vyapar Vihar area with the Sirgitti–Mahmand Bypass. To reduce traffic pressure in the city, a consensus was reached to submit a proposal through the Public Works Department, with the consent of NHAI, for the construction of a four-lane Bilaspur Ring Road at an estimated cost of Rs 950 crore.
The meeting also approved Rs 328 crore for the Paraghat Diversion Scheme at Kharang Reservoir, Rs 252 crore for STP and drainage works of the Arpa River within the Municipal Corporation area, and Rs 150 crore from the Disaster Management Fund to address waterlogging issues in Bilaspur city. Decisions were taken to hold discussions with Tata Memorial Hospital for establishing a cancer hospital in Bilaspur, to construct an underpass near Kanan Pendari, to develop the Koni–Birkona–Khamtarai–Bahtarai road, to prepare a DPR for a 24×7 water supply scheme, and to convene meetings of TNCPC and district officials to review previous plans and expedite development of the Arpa SADA area.
Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, Finance Minister O P Choudhary, MLAs Amar Agrawal, Sushant Shukla and Dharamlal Kaushik, and Mayor Smt. Pooja Vidhani, Chief Secretary Vikas Sheel, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Subodh Kumar Singh, along with secretaries and senior officials from various departments, were present.
