Chhattisgarh Government is constructing 34 new Nalanda Complexes in a bid to give wings to the dreams of youth, who are pursuing higher education and preparing for competitive exams. These Nalanda complexes are not limited to big cities like Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Bhilai, and Raigarh but are also coming up in remote forest regions such as Sukma, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Surajpur, Baikunthpur, Chirmiri, Kunkuri, Jashpur, Balrampur and Pendra. In the past two years, the Urban Administration and Development Department, Government of Chhattisgarh has sanctioned funds for 33 new Nalanda complexes. In Raigarh, work is underway on a 700-seater central library being built through Corporate Social Fund CSR), following an agreement worth Rs 42.56 crore between Raigarh Municipal Corporation and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPIC).

 

This will be the largest Nalanda complex in the state. These Central Libraries-cum-Reading Zones will provide a conducive environment for competitive exam preparation across the state. They will also house high-quality books for higher education and competitive exams. Serving youth from all sections of society, these libraries will play a significant role in career building. Equipped with all modern facilities, they will offer both online and offline study options. Over the last two years, the Urban Administration and Development Department, Government of Chhattisgarh has sanctioned Rs 237.57 crore for 33 Nalanda complexes.

 

In the current financial year 2025–26, Rs 125.88 crore has been approved for 18 complexes in 17 urban bodies. In 2024–25, Rs 111.70 crore was sanctioned for 15 complexes in different cities. Of these, tendering has been completed for 11 complexes and work orders have been issued to the construction agencies. These will start taking shape soon. With the approval of Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Administration and Development Minister Arun Sao, the Department released the first instalment of Rs 19.14 crore for Nalanda complexes in 11 urban bodies. The municipal corporations of Durg, Rajnandgaon, and Ambikapur have each been allotted Rs 2.85 crore.

 

The municipalities of Balodabazar, Balod, Bemetara, Kawardha, Kanker, and Janjgir, as well as Kunkuri Nagar Panchayat, have each been given Rs 1.10 crore. Jashpur Municipal Council has received Rs 2.85 crore as the first instalment for its complex. To provide an enabling environment for competitive exams and higher education, 500-seater libraries will be built in 10 urban bodies, while 250-seater facilities will come up in 22 cities. Durg, Rajnandgaon, Ambikapur, Jagdalpur, Bilaspur, Bhilai, Jashpur, Lormi, and Gariaband will each get a 500-seater Nalanda complex. Meanwhile, Dhamtari and Chirmiri municipal corporations; Kawardha, Janjgir-Naila, Balod, Balodabazar, Bemetara, Kanker, Narayanpur, Balrampur, Mungeli, Khairagarh, Sakti, Pendra, Sarangarh, Surajpur, Baikunthpur, Dantewada, and Sukma municipalities; and Kunkuri, Basna, and Ambagarh-Chowki Nagar Panchayats will each have a 250-seater central library-cum-reading zone.

 

The capital city Raipur currently operates three central libraries-cum-reading zones – the 1,000-seater Nalanda Complex-cum-Oxy Reading Zone, the 800-seater Takshashila Central Library-cum-Smart Reading Zone, and a 500-seater Central Library. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, citing the success of the Raipur Nalanda complex, said the Chhattisgarh government is working to give flight to the dreams of the state’s youth. “We are building Nalanda complexes in cities across different regions so that youth from every corner – from Sukma to Surajpur and Raigarh to Kawardha