Bastar will become Naxal-free soon: Raman Singh

Once considered as an island, Bastar, is now being linked with rail route, roads and communication from all the corners, he adds

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh today exuded confidence that Bastar will soon get out of "clutches" from the menace of naxalism that has infested the region over the past three decades.

"I assure people, the way Maoist problem eliminated from Surguja (northern Chhattisgarh bordering Jharkhand and Odisha), Bastar will also soon get out of clutches of naxalism," Singh said while addressing the Independence Day function here at the police parade ground.

The two tribal dominated regions - Bastar and Surguja- will witness ample development in coming days, he asserted.

Once considered as an island, Bastar, is now being linked with rail route, roads and communication from all the corners, he said.

Under Dallirajhra-Rowghat and Jagdalpur rail line project, laying of rail route has been completed upto Daundi (17 km from Dallirajhra) and soon passenger trains will also be run on the route in coming days, he said.

He said that the key rail and steel projects that had been proposed in the Bastar would usher a new era of socio-economic development in the region.

"Several road projects are in progress to connect Bastar from various locations. Two ultra mega steel plants are proposed to be set up in Bastar Production will be started in one of them established at Nagarnar," he said.

The CM further said that keeping in view the priority of development along with security, strength of security personnel had been doubled which had enhanced participation of youths in security system of the state.

To boost the morale of security personnel combating naxalism, facilities such as out of turn promotion, housing, insurance, job to kin of martyrs, special allowance, food allowance, training, are being rendered, he said.

Number of arrests and surrender of naxalites have also gone up in past few years.

Briefing on the state's contribution in various Centre schemes, Singh said under the Prdhanmantri Jan Dhan Yojna, 99.4 per cent families in the state associated with the banking facility. Over 42 lakh people were insured under Pradhanmantri Suraksha Beema Yojna.