Chhattisgarh moves ahead on state capital region plan; Raipur-Durg-Nava Raipur to be integrated

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh took the first formal step towards shaping its proposed State Capital Region (SCR) on Wednesday, with chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai chairing the meeting of Chhattisgarh capital region development authority and directing officials to execute the plan in a time-bound manner with regular high-level monitoring.The meeting, held at the chief minister’s office in the assembly complex, discussed the authority’s objectives, functioning and the roadmap for planned, integrated development of the capital region. Officials said the proposed SCR will cover Raipur, Durg-Bhilai, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar and adjoining areas, and is being envisioned as a major future growth engine for Chhattisgarh.Chief minister said Raipur and nearby urban centres were rapidly expanding into a larger urban cluster and therefore required balanced and planned development on the lines of major metropolitan regions. Among the key proposals discussed were development of regional mobility and logistics, a techno-economic feasibility study for metro operations, surveys related to urban expansion, and appointment of expert consultants for planning and execution.Officials informed that a provision of Rs 27 crore has been made for the authority’s initial activities.