On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated several development initiatives and laid the foundation stone for projects worth over ₹33,700 crore across various sectors during an event held in Chhattisgarh.
The ceremony took place in Mohbhattha village, located in the Bilaspur district, where Modi launched the Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) train service for the Abhanpur-Raipur route via Mandir Hasaud. Additionally, he presented replica keys of houses to three beneficiaries as part of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).
Among the significant projects inaugurated, Modi laid the groundwork for NTPC’s Sipat Super Thermal Power Project Stage-III (1x800MW) in Bilaspur district. This advanced pithead project, which involves an investment of over ₹9,790 crore, will employ Ultra-Supercritical Technology to enhance power generation efficiency. The commissioning of Sipat III – (1×800 MW) power plant will bring the total installed capacity of Sipat STPS to an impressive 3,780 MW.
Modi also inaugurated the First Super Critical Thermal Power Project (2X660MW) of Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Company Limited (CSPGCL), with an investment of ₹15,800 crore. Furthermore, he inaugurated three power transmission projects, which together exceed ₹560 crore, as part of the Western Region Expansion Scheme (WRES) by Power Grid.
In the energy sector, the PM laid the foundation stone for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd’s City Gas Distribution (CGD) project, which will cover the districts of Koriya, Surajpur, Balrampur, and Surguja. The project worth ₹1,285 crore will involve the installation of over 200 km of high-pressure pipelines and more than 800 km of MDPE pipelines, along with CNG dispensing outlets.
Modi also laid the foundation for the Visakh-Raipur Pipeline (VRPL) project of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), which will extend 540 km and is estimated to cost ₹2,210 crore. This multi-product pipeline will have a capacity exceeding three million metric tonnes per annum, facilitating the transportation of petrol, diesel, and kerosene.
The Prime Minister has initiated seven new railway projects spanning 108 kilometers and inaugurated three completed railway projects worth ₹2,690 crore, covering a distance of 111 kilometers. He also announced the complete electrification of the Indian Railways network in Chhattisgarh. In terms of infrastructure enhancement, Modi inaugurated the improved Jhalmala to Sherpar section of NH-930, measuring 37 kilometers, and the Ambikapur-Pathalgaon section of NH-43, which is 75 kilometers long. Both sections have been upgraded to two-lane roads with paved shoulders.
Additionally, he laid the foundation for the Kondagaon-Narayanpur section of NH-130D, which will also be developed into a two-lane road over a distance of 47.5 kilometers. These road projects, with a total investment exceeding ₹1,270 crore, are anticipated to significantly enhance access to tribal and industrial regions, promoting overall development in the area.
Moreover, the Prime Minister dedicated two important educational initiatives: 130 PM SHRI Schools across 29 districts and the Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK) in Raipur. As part of the PM Schools for Rising India initiative, these 130 schools will receive upgrades that include advanced infrastructure, smart boards, modern laboratories, and libraries. The VSK will enable online monitoring and data analysis of various government education schemes.
