The Central Government has given its nod to a Rs 307.96 crore infrastructure boost for Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region with the formal approval of the 11.38-km long Keshkal Bypass on National Highway-30 in Kondagaon district. Widely regarded as Bastar’s lifeline, the existing Keshkal Ghat stretch, with 10 dangerously narrow and winding hairpin bends, will now be bypassed by a modern 4-lane route to ensure safer, faster and uninterrupted movement of traffic. The approval was granted following a formal appeal by Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister and PWD Minister Arun Sao, who had written to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on May 19, requesting central sanction for the project. The bypass is poised to transform mobility and logistics across southern Chhattisgarh, which remains critically linked to the conflict-prone Bastar belt.

 

According to the approved technical layout, the bypass will include 2 major viaducts, 3 minor bridges, 15 culverts, and 2 key junctions. Out of its total length, 6.10 km will pass through hilly terrain while 5.28 km lies in plains. The new alignment ensures full highway-standard design with a median divider and side drains to support high-volume vehicular movement. Currently, the Keshkal Ghat segment faces intense daily pressure from over 11,000 vehicles, yet remains constrained by a 7–9 metre average width and treacherous bends that prolong travel and endanger lives. The new bypass is expected to streamline traffic, prevent congestion, and significantly reduce travel time. Beyond connectivity, the route holds strategic counter-insurgency value.

 

By ensuring smooth access from Kanker to Kondagaon, Jagdalpur, Narayanpur, Bijapur, Sukma and Konta, the highway will reinforce security, facilitate rapid troop movement, and act as a deterrent to Naxalite disruption. Deputy CM Sao hailed the sanction as “a dual-engine commitment to Bastar’s future” and extended gratitude to the central leadership. “This will not only raise the bar for mobility and trade but also strike at the heart of Naxal extremism by opening corridors of peace and progress,” he stated. Welcoming the Centre’s nod, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed his gratitude to the Union Minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the decision, calling it a “decisive step” for Bastar’s progress. He stated that the bypass would resolve traffic bottlenecks on the ghat and provide a safer, smoother alternative route for commuters.

 

“This approval reflects the coordinated development approach of the Central and State governments. It marks another strong step in integrating tribal Bastar into the mainstream,” the Chief Minister said. He added that the bypass will not only improve vehicular movement but also reduce pollution and urban congestion, benefitting local communities. Highlighting the importance of the project, Keskal MLA Neelkanth Tekam said the bypass is critical for improving connectivity through the mountainous stretch. “I walked 13 km on foot to inspect the proposed site and facilitated the preparation of a fresh DPR, which has now received final approval,” he informed. He thanked Chief Minister Sai for his efforts in securing the project’s sanction and said that construction will help decongest the ghat region. The bypass has been a long-standing demand of the local population, and with the Centre’s go-ahead, it is now finally set to become a reality—promising not just better travel but also enhanced economic prospects for the Bastar hinterland.