Bastar's road deficit highlighted; Arunachal model suggested for PMGSY

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai raised concerns about the inadequate road network in Bastar during a high‑level discussion with Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan. The meeting, which also included Home Minister Vijay Sharma and senior officials, focused on the Prime Minister’s Rural Road Scheme (PMGSY‑IV).

Many villages in Bastar lie deep within forested hills, making them ineligible for road funding under the current definition that treats habitations within a 500‑metre radius as a single cluster. This has left numerous small settlements cut off from basic services.

To address this, the state proposed adopting the Arunachal Pradesh approach, where a 10‑kilometre radius is used for clustering. Such a revision would dramatically increase the number of villages qualifying for road construction, fostering economic growth and improving accessibility.

Minister Chauhan pledged a positive response and highlighted the central government's ongoing commitment to tribal and remote region development. He also praised the state's effective implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, which is delivering about 1,500 houses daily, and the progress made in sanitation and clean‑water initiatives.

Both leaders agreed that prompt approval of the special provision will accelerate infrastructure development across Bastar and help bridge the region’s connectivity gap.