Raipur, Nov 1 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Chhattisgarh on the state’s 26th foundation day on Sunday, saying areas once affected by Maoism are now emerging as centres of peace, trust and development.
In a letter written to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Saturday, Modi said decisive success against Maoism has created a new environment for development. He pointed to new airports, railway projects of over Rs 51,000 crore, welfare schemes for lakhs of families and premier educational institutions, and said Chhattisgarh would play an important role in the making of a developed India.
Modi also said he is proud of the transformation taking place in Bastar.
The CM shared the letter on ‘X’ on Sunday and thanked the PM for his greetings, saying his affection for Chhattisgarh’s soil, rich culture and hardworking people was a matter of pride and inspiration for the state.
Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh on November 1, 2000.
The state was declared free of Naxalism on March 31, 2026, marking the end of a four-decade-long Maoist insurgency in the region.
Recalling the formation of Chhattisgarh under the visionary leadership of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Modi, in the letter, said the historic decision fulfilled the decades-old aspirations of lakhs of people and marked the beginning of a new development journey.
Chhattisgarh has been preserving its rich heritage while moving towards new heights of development. Areas once identified as part of the Maoist-affected ‘Red Corridor’ were now emerging as centres of peace, trust and development, he noted.
Maoism had long been one of the biggest obstacles to the state’s development, but decisive success had been achieved in eliminating the menace, creating a new environment for development and accelerating the expansion of connectivity and modern infrastructure, the PM said.
Modi also recalled his long association with Chhattisgarh, and said he had visited the region several times even when it was part of undivided Madhya Pradesh. He said his visits from the forested areas of Sarguja to the land of Bastar have helped him understand the state’s culture and way of life.
The PM recalled his visit to Chhattisgarh last year during its silver jubilee celebrations, and said inaugurating the new Assembly building was a memorable experience.
Highlighting the state’s infrastructure development, Modi said that 25 years ago there was only one flight a day between Delhi and Raipur, while Chhattisgarh now has a network of four modern airports.
Railway projects of more than Rs 51,000 crore are underway in the state, and modern train services such as Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat have also been introduced, he noted.
Road construction has reduced travel time between Raipur and Bilaspur by nearly half, while upcoming expressways connecting the state with major economic centres such as Visakhapatnam and Ranchi-Dhanbad would further boost connectivity, industries and employment opportunities, he said.
Modi said the government’s policies were guided by the message of Sant Guru Ghasidas, ‘Mankhe-Mankhe Ek Samaan’ (all human beings are equal), and the principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’.
He said special attention is being given to improving connectivity and basic facilities in tribal areas through initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, PM JANMAN and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan.
Under various welfare initiatives, free foodgrains are being provided to 73 lakh needy families in the state, while more than 22 lakh permanent houses have been completed in rural and urban areas, Modi said.
He also highlighted the state’s paddy procurement system and said more than 25 lakh farmers are benefiting from arrangements that ensured better prices for their produce.
Referring to women’s empowerment, Modi said more than 68 lakh women were receiving Rs 1,000 every month under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana.
Chhattisgarh’s youth are benefiting from the presence of premier educational institutions such as AIIMS, IIT, IIIT, IIM and NIFT, while initiatives such as PM-SETU and the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme have been focusing on skill development, he said.
The prime minister also highlighted the emergence of Nava Raipur as a modern city and said efforts were underway to develop Chhattisgarh as a major centre for innovation and technology under the India AI Mission and Semiconductor Mission.
Describing Chhattisgarh’s cultural heritage as a source of pride, Modi referred to its association with Lord Ram, Sant Guru Ghasidas, the Kabirpanth tradition and Padma Vibhushan awardee Teejan Bai’s Pandavani.
He said Chhattisgarh will play an important role in the making of a developed India and expressed confidence that the state’s ‘Anjor Vision’ document would provide fresh direction to the goal of building a developed Chhattisgarh as part of a developed India.
He wished the chief minister and people of the state a bright future on the occasion of its foundation day. PTI TKP GK
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