CM inaugurates regional workshop in Nava Raipur; MoUs with HUDCO and CEPT University to support project financing, technical expertise and capacity building
TFP Bureau, Raipur, October 21, 2026: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday called upon urban local bodies to prepare financially viable, technically sound and future-oriented development projects, saying the Centre’s ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund offers a major opportunity to modernise the state’s cities and strengthen their economies.
Inaugurating the first regional workshop on the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) and Urban Invest Window (UiWIN) at Mayfair Lake Resort in Nava Raipur, Sai said cities were not merely centres of housing and civic amenities but also engines of economic growth, industrial activity, trade, employment and innovation.
The workshop was jointly organised by the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) and the Chhattisgarh Government’s Urban Administration and Development Department.
Sai said urban development planning must look beyond immediate requirements and address the needs of the coming decades. He urged municipal corporations, municipal councils and nagar panchayats to prepare quality projects that improve residents’ lives while ensuring financial sustainability.
Two MoUs signed to strengthen urban development
Two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed during the workshop to strengthen urban planning and project implementation in Chhattisgarh.
The first agreement was signed between HUDCO and the state’s Urban Administration and Development Department, while the second was signed between the department and CEPT University.
The agreements are expected to help urban local bodies access technical expertise, improve project preparation and financial management, mobilise resources, and strengthen institutional capacity through training and professional guidance.
Sai said collaboration between government departments, financial institutions and specialised organisations was essential to prepare cities for future challenges.
He expressed confidence that the workshop would help urban local bodies identify viable projects and improve their implementation.
Permanent solutions to civic problems
Emphasising long-term urban planning, Sai said cities needed durable solutions for drinking water supply, drainage, roads, electricity, sanitation and public transport.
Referring to waterlogging during the monsoon, he called for effective drainage systems designed to address future requirements rather than temporary fixes.
The Chief Minister also raised concerns about the haphazard arrangement of electricity and other utility cables, which sometimes have to be lifted to allow large vehicles and processions to pass.
He advocated underground cabling wherever feasible, saying modern urban infrastructure should prioritise public safety, convenience and orderly development.
Sai stressed that civic works should be planned in an integrated manner, with water supply, roads, electricity, drainage and sanitation departments coordinating their activities to avoid fragmented development.
Addressing mayors, municipal chairpersons and officials, he said public representatives had a responsibility to understand their cities’ needs and deliver solutions that would benefit future generations.
Cities central to Chhattisgarh’s development vision
Sai said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India by 2047 was closely linked to the development of economically strong and sustainable cities. The Chhattisgarh government, he added, was working in mission mode to achieve its own vision of a developed state.
He said cities must attract investment, create a favourable environment for industries and businesses, generate employment and provide high-quality civic amenities.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the importance of extending basic services to remote and tribal settlements through initiatives such as PM-JANMAN, the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan and the Niyad Nellanar Yojana.
Referring to infrastructure development, he cited the expansion of railway connectivity in Chhattisgarh, including rail services reaching the Rowghat area and the commencement of services between Raipur and Kurud.
Sai said the state’s natural resources, fertile land and workforce offered considerable development potential. He added that improvements in security following progress against Naxalism had created new opportunities for investment and development.
₹1 lakh crore fund offers major opportunity: Arun Sao
Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Administration and Development Minister Arun Sao said the Centre had provided ₹1 lakh crore under the Urban Challenge Fund, creating a significant opportunity for the state’s urban local bodies.
He said the challenge was to prepare quality, viable projects that would enable cities to secure resources under the initiative.
Sao stressed that urban development could no longer rely solely on conventional methods, as technology and citizens’ expectations were changing rapidly. Municipal bodies needed to embrace innovation and modern technology while ensuring that projects remained financially sustainable.
He also emphasised that the success of a project depended not only on its construction but also on its long-term utility, operation, maintenance and financial viability.
Every rupee of public money, he said, must be used responsibly, with clear plans for maintaining infrastructure after completion.
HUDCO, CEPT expertise to support cities
Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu said urban development had gained momentum through initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban, Swachh Bharat Mission and AMRUT.
However, rapid urbanisation was increasing demand for housing, drinking water, roads, transport, sanitation and other civic amenities, making it necessary for urban local bodies to become financially stronger and more self-reliant.
Sahu said cities should explore different financing options, including bank loans, market-based resources and public-private partnerships, alongside government assistance.
He cited waste-to-energy initiatives in Jabalpur and technology-based water management and monitoring systems in Hyderabad as examples that Chhattisgarh’s cities could study and adapt to local requirements.
Experts at the workshop discussed the Urban Challenge Fund and Urban Invest Window, project viability, resource mobilisation, modern urban planning and effective implementation.
The MoUs with HUDCO and CEPT University are expected to provide support in project preparation, financial planning, technical guidance, training and institutional capacity building.
Mayors of all 14 municipal corporations in Chhattisgarh, municipal council chairpersons, senior state officials, HUDCO Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Kulshrestha, CEPT University President Barjor Mehta, Telangana municipal administration secretary T. K. Sreedevi, public representatives and urban development experts attended the workshop.
