Bastar, once synonymous with deprivation and insurgency, is today emerging as a beacon of investment, opportunity, and inclusive development. With public and private commitments worth nearly `52,000 crore, the region is on course to become one of Chhattisgarh’s fastest growing industrial and socio-economic hubs. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, who inaugurated the programme, said the Bastar region is at the centre of his government's new industrial policy, as it is rich in mineral resources and abundant natural wealth, offering immense possibilities for development within itself.
“Maoism had been hampering Bastar's development. We have resolved that we will bring Bastar into the mainstream and make it the central axis of developed Chhattisgarh. “Our brave soldiers and Bastar residents have been fighting against Naxalism with courage and determination and today Bastar is moving ahead on the path of writing a golden chapter of investment by erasing the dark history of Maoism, he said. Expressing confidence that Maoism will be eliminated by March 2026, he said a Naxal-free Bastar will move forward on the development path even faster.
The transformation is underpinned by `43,000 crore investment from NMDC, coupled with over `1,000 crore in private capital across healthcare, food processing, MSMEs, and hospitality. At the recent Bastar Investor Connect, investment proposals exceeding Rs 967 crore were received, promising to generate more than 2,100 jobs across sectors such as agriculture, food processing, and allied industries.Connectivity projects remain at the heart of this transformation. Railway projects worth `5,200 crore, including the Raoghat-Jagdalpur line and doubling of the KK rail line, are expected to boost trade, tourism, and security operations.
Road projects of `2,300 crore will link all seven districts of Bastar, with new routes planned through Abujhmad and Dantewada’s Barsur, further extending to Bijapur. Officials note that such connectivity will accelerate development delivery and weaken insurgent networks. For the first time, Bastar will host a 350-bed private multi-specialty hospital and medical college in Jagdalpur with an investment of `550 crore. Additional projects, including a `33 crore multi-specialty hospital and a 200-bed medical institute, will bring advanced healthcare within reach while creating jobs for local youth.Skill development initiatives are also gathering pace.
Under the Mukhyamantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, over 90,000 youths have been trained, with 39,137 securing employment. In 2024–25 alone, more than 3,000 youths are being trained in IT, automotive, construction, and renewable energy sectors. Sai, who has toured Bastar more than 100 times in 20 months, underscored that development is inseparable from peace.
