Urban Challenge Fund will give new impetus to planned development of Chhattisgarh’s cities – Chief Minister Shri Sai

Urban bodies should prepare development projects as per future needs: Chief Minister Shri Sai

Cities will play an important role in building a developed India and a developed Chhattisgarh.

Chief Minister inaugurated the first regional workshop on Urban Challenge Fund and Urban Invest Window.

Two important MoUs to give a new direction to urban development; urban bodies will get financial, technical and capacity development support.

The role of our cities is extremely important in building a developed India and a developed Chhattisgarh. Cities are not only centers of housing and civic amenities, but also the mainstays of economic activity, industry, trade, employment, and innovation. Therefore, the development of Chhattisgarh’s cities should not be limited to current needs but should be well-planned, inclusive, sustainable, and economically viable, keeping in mind the needs of the coming decades. Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai said this while addressing and inaugurating the first regional workshop on Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) and Urban Invest Window (UiWIN), organized under the joint aegis of Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) and the Urban Administration and Development Department of the Chhattisgarh Government at Mayfair Lake Resort in Nava Raipur today.

Chief Minister Shri Sai said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, urban development in the country has received a new vision and momentum. Innovative initiatives like the Urban Challenge Fund offer a major opportunity to make cities modern, well-equipped, economically strong, and self-reliant. Chhattisgarh’s urban bodies must seize this opportunity and develop quality projects that improve the lives of citizens and strengthen the cities’ economies.

During the workshop , “Two Important MoUs to Strengthen Urban Development,”
two important MoUs were signed to strengthen the state’s urban development, better management of financial resources, and the technical and institutional capacity of urban bodies. The first MoU was signed between HUDCO and the Chhattisgarh government’s Urban Administration and Development Department, and the second MoU was signed between the Urban Administration and Development Department and Sept University.

Describing these agreements as important initiatives for the state’s urban development, Chief Minister Shri Sai said that through these agreements, urban bodies will be supported in better planning of development projects, mobilization of financial resources, obtaining technical expertise, training, and institutional capacity building. This will accelerate the development of quality projects tailored to the actual needs of cities and their effective implementation. He said that a strong partnership between expert institutions, financial institutions, and the government is the need of the hour in urban development. This type of institutional cooperation will play a vital role in preparing Chhattisgarh’s cities for future needs.

‘Urban economy plays a big role in the goal of developed Chhattisgarh’
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has resolved to build a developed India by the year 2047. Accordingly, the Chhattisgarh government has also prepared a vision document for developed Chhattisgarh and work is being done in mission mode to bring it to the ground. Chief Minister Shri Sai said that we have to develop such cities which attract investment, create a conducive environment for industry and business, generate new employment opportunities and at the same time provide high quality basic amenities to the citizens. Well-planned urbanization will become the strong foundation of developed Chhattisgarh.

“Permanent solutions to urban problems”
Chief Minister Shri Sai told urban bodies that development plans should be made not only with today’s problems in mind, but also with the needs of the next several decades in mind. Amid rapidly increasing urbanization, long-term planning for drinking water, drainage, roads, electricity, sanitation, transportation and other civic amenities is essential. Referring to the problem of waterlogging in cities, he said that there should be a permanent solution to the problems faced by citizens during the rainy season. For this, there is a need to develop effective and long-term drainage systems.

The Chief Minister also drew attention to the problem of disorganized power and other utility cables. He said that in many places, power cables are raised during processions or the movement of large vehicles. This is neither appropriate from a civic safety perspective nor consistent with modern urban planning. Where possible, plans should be developed to bury power and other utility cables underground. He said that better coordination between various departments is also essential for urban development. Works such as drinking water, roads, electricity, drainage, and sanitation should not be separate but should be part of overall urban planning.

“Public representatives should plan for the future of their cities.”
Chief Minister Shri Sai told the mayors, municipal and town council presidents, and officials present at the workshop that the public has entrusted them with the important responsibility of developing their cities. Therefore, understanding the real needs and problems of their cities and finding lasting solutions to them should be their priority. He said that the Urban Challenge Fund is a major opportunity for urban bodies. All bodies should seriously study its provisions, consult with experts, and prepare projects that are technically sound, useful to citizens, and economically viable.

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the technical guidance and expert suggestions from this workshop will give a new direction to the state’s urban development. Through the coordinated efforts of the government, public representatives, urban bodies, and expert institutions, Chhattisgarh’s cities will be made clean, beautiful, well-organized, well-equipped, and self-reliant.

“The benefits of development are reaching the last person.”
Chief Minister Shri Sai stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Central Government is working to bring the benefits of development to the last person in society, following the motto of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas.” He added that through the PM Janman Yojana, basic amenities like roads, electricity, housing, and drinking water are being provided to settlements of particularly vulnerable tribal groups. The Dharti Aaba Tribal Village Utkarsh Abhiyan has also given new impetus to the overall development of tribal areas.
Referring to the expansion of rail infrastructure in the state, the Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh is continuously receiving major gifts in the field of railways. The expansion of rail connectivity to the Raoghat area of ​​Bastar and the launch of rail service from Raipur to Kurud are significant achievements in the state’s development.

The Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh is a state rich in natural and mineral wealth. Its fertile land, abundant resources, and hardworking citizens are our greatest strengths. The successes achieved against Naxalism under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the determination of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the indomitable courage of the security forces have strengthened new possibilities for development and investment in the state. He said that by further strengthening the identity of “Chhattisgarhiya Sable Badhiya,” we must all work together to create a Chhattisgarh that plays a leading role in building a developed India in the year 2047.

“The ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund is a major opportunity for cities,”
said Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Administration and Development Minister Arun Sao. He stated that the Government of India has allocated ₹1 lakh crore for the Urban Challenge Fund. This represents a significant opportunity for the development of Chhattisgarh’s cities. The challenge now is how the state’s urban bodies can develop quality and viable projects to maximize resources from this fund. He emphasized that the world is rapidly changing, and along with technology, citizens’ expectations are also changing. Consequently, a shift in urban development practices is essential. Traditional approaches alone cannot meet future needs. Urban bodies must embrace innovation and modern technology.

Mr. Saw told the public representatives that the city that gave us identity, education, culture, and the opportunity to progress has now entrusted us with the responsibility of leadership. This is an opportunity to give back to our city. Every public representative should pledge to work during their tenure to ensure that future generations benefit. He said that the success of a project isn’t determined solely by its construction. Plans for its utility, operation, maintenance, and financial viability must also be clear from the outset. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure the proper use of every rupee of public money.

“The Urban Challenge Fund will provide a new foundation for development for cities – Shri Tokhan Sahu.”
Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Tokhan Sahu said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the country’s urban development has found a new direction. Schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban, Swachh Bharat Mission, and AMRUT Mission have expanded civic amenities and significantly improved people’s living standards.

He stated that rapid urbanization is driving a growing demand for civic amenities, including housing, drinking water, roads, transportation, and sanitation. To address this, it is essential to empower urban bodies financially and self-sufficiently. The Urban Challenge Fund offers significant opportunities in this direction. Mr. Sahu emphasized that development projects should be both useful to citizens and economically viable. In addition to government support, options such as bank financing, market-based resources, and public-private partnerships should also be effectively utilized.

Referring to innovations like production of energy from waste in Jabalpur and water management and technology based monitoring system in Hyderabad, he said that the urban bodies of Chhattisgarh should study the successful experiments of the country and adopt them as per the local conditions.

‘Support will be provided through expertise, finance and capacity development’
In the workshop, experts provided guidance on various aspects of Urban Challenge Fund and Urban Invest Window, raising financial resources for urban development, feasibility of projects, modern urban planning and effective implementation. The agreements signed between the Urban Administration and Development Department, HUDCO and CEPT University will provide support to the urban bodies of the state in project formulation, financial management, technical expertise, training and institutional capacity development.

On this occasion, Mayors of all 14 Municipal Corporations of the state, Chairpersons of Municipal Councils, Principal Secretary of Urban Administration and Development Department Shri Sonmani Bora, CMD of HUDCO Shri Sanjay Kulshrestha, Secretary of Telangana Urban Administration Development Department Dr. T.K. Sri Devi, President of CEPT University Shri Barjor Mehta, Director of Urban Administration and Development Department Shri Nilesh Mahadev Kshirsagar, Chief Executive Officer of SUDA Shri Sumit Agarwal along with public representatives, experts and senior officials were present.