Raipur : Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai today held a high-level review meeting regarding the development of Bilaspur Municipal Corporation and surrounding areas at Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan. In the meeting, detailed discussions were held on ongoing and proposed development works in Bilaspur city and its outskirts, expansion of basic amenities and progress of projects under construction. The Chief Minister said that the judicial capital Bilaspur is the second largest city in the state and keeping in mind the increasing urbanization, balanced, inclusive and planned development is necessary here.

Chief Minister Shri Sai stated that Chhattisgarh is rapidly progressing towards development, and accordingly, urban infrastructure will be strengthened. He directed officials to ensure quality and timely completion of all ongoing projects. He specifically directed them to ensure clean and regular drinking water supply and to work seriously on related projects. The Chief Minister urged that development plans should be formulated with Bilaspur as a priority in terms of industry and tourism. Shri Sai stated that in the last two years, the government has consistently approved new development projects. The upcoming budget will also be crucial, and it will help realize the vision of a "developed Chhattisgarh." He emphasized that coordination between departments will yield better results, and that no shortages will be allowed in the development of both villages and cities.

The meeting discussed issues related to roads, bridges, drinking water, drainage, pollution-free cities, transportation, education, health, sports and youth welfare, housing, e-bus services, air transport, Transport Nagar, industry and trade, tourism, and the Arpa Special Area Development Project (Arpa SADA), and reached consensus on various topics. It was also decided to expedite the process of issuing AS for the new SIMS hospital building and to operate the super-specialty hospital on a PPP mode. Public representatives expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister for the transfer of funds to the Defense Ministry for the expansion of Bilaspur Airport. Further instructions were given to expedite other airport development works and the night landing facility. It was agreed that the CSIDC would undertake the development of Transport Nagar Silphari and submit an application for land. It was also decided to expedite the land acquisition process for the Uslapur Railway Overbridge and include it in the upcoming budget.

Additionally, instructions were given to construct flyover bridges from Rajiv Gandhi Chowk, Nehru Chowk, Mahamaya Chowk (Y-shaped) to Ratanpur Road in Bilaspur at a cost of 305 crore rupees. A flyover from CMD Chowk-Imlipara Road-Tagore Chowk-Jagmal Chowk at the Old Bus Stand Chowk was constructed at a cost of 115 crore rupees. The preparation of a DPR for the construction of the Tarbahar four-lane railway overbridge at a cost of 320 crore rupees to connect the FCI godown Vyapar Vihar area with the Sirgitti-Mahmand bypass was also approved. Similarly, to ease the city's traffic congestion, the Public Works Department agreed to submit a proposal, based on NHAI's approval, for the construction of a four-lane Bilaspur Ring Road at a cost of 950 crore rupees. 328 crore rupees were agreed for the Paraghat Diversion Scheme at the Kharang Reservoir, 252 crore rupees for the STP and drainage works of the Arpa River in the Municipal Corporation area, and 150 crore rupees from the Disaster Management Fund to address the waterlogging problem in Bilaspur city. It was decided to discuss with Tata Memorial Hospital for Cancer Hospital in Bilaspur, construction of underpass in front of Kanan Pendari, construction of Koni to Birkona-Khamtarai-Bahatrai road, preparation of DPR for 24×7 water supply scheme and to discuss the previous plans and take it forward by holding a meeting of TNCP and district officials for the development of Arpa Sada area.

Union Minister of State Shri Tokhan Sahu, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Arun Saw, Finance Minister Shri O.P. Chaudhary, MLA Shri Amar Agarwal, MLA Shri Sushant Shukla, MLA Shri Dharamlal Kaushik, Mayor Smt. Pooja Vidhani, Chief Secretary Shri Vikas Sheel, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Shri Subodh Kumar Singh and secretaries and senior officers of various departments were present in the meeting.