CHIEF Minister Vishnu Deo Sai chaired a high-level review meeting at Mantralaya, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar on Tuesday to assess the development of Bilaspur Municipal Corporation and its surrounding areas. During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on ongoing and proposed development works, expansion of basic urban amenities, and the progress of projects under implementation in Bilaspur city and its peripheral regions.

 

The Chief Minister stated that ‘Nyayadhani’ Bilaspur is the second-largest city of Chhattisgarh, and in view of rapid urbanisation, ‘balanced, inclusive and planned development’ of the city is essential. Chief Minister Sai stated that Chhattisgarh is moving rapidly on the path of development, and accordingly, urban infrastructure will be strengthened systematically.

 

He directed officials to ensure that all ongoing schemes are completed within the specified time frame with high-quality standards. Emphasising the importance of a clean and regular drinking water supply, he instructed officials to work with utmost seriousness on water-related projects. The Chief Minister also stated that Bilaspur should be given priority from the perspectives of industry and tourism when preparing development plans. He informed that over the past two years, the government has continuously approved new development works.

 

He added that the forthcoming budget will be highly significant and will play a key role in realising the vision of ‘Viksit Chhattisgarh’. Sai stressed that better outcomes can be achieved only through inter-departmental coordination and assured that there would be no shortfall in the development of cities as well as villages.

 

During the meeting, pointwise deliberations were held on roads, bridges and culverts, drinking water, drainage, pollution-free city initiatives, traffic management, education, health, sports and youth welfare, housing, e-bus services, air connectivity, Transport Nagar, industry and trade, tourism, and the Arpa Special Area Development Project (Arpa SADA). Consensus was reached on several key issues.

 

It was decided to expedite the process of issuing administrative approval (AS) for the new hospital building of CIMS and to operate the Super Speciality Hospital under the PPP mode. Information was shared regarding the transfer of funds to the Defence authorities for the expansion of Bilaspur Airport, for which public representatives expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister. Instructions were also issued to expedite other airport development works and to commence night landing facilities as soon as possible.

 

Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, Finance Minister O P Choudhary, MLAs Amar Agrawal, Sushant Shukla and Dharamlal Kaushik, and Mayor Pooja Vidhani, Chief Secretary Vikas Sheel, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Subodh Kumar Singh and senior officials from various departments were present.