TFP Bureau, Raipur, August 12, 2025: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai on Tuesday announced a major boost to urban development and governance with the inauguration and foundation-laying of projects worth over ₹260 crore at a special event held at Bilaspur’s Bahatarai Indoor Stadium. The programme, attended by senior ministers, MLAs, and top officials, marked the launch of multiple infrastructure upgrades alongside a significant leap in digital public services.
The Chief Minister inaugurated 24 completed projects worth ₹63.57 crore in Bilaspur district and laid the foundation stones for 25 new works estimated at more than ₹197 crore. These projects include new road networks, modern drainage systems, public facility upgrades, and other civic infrastructure improvements aimed at enhancing living conditions in urban areas.
Highlighting the state’s commitment to cleanliness and urban excellence, CM Sai announced substantial cash rewards for municipalities that secure top positions in the upcoming National Cleanliness Survey. Urban bodies achieving first place will receive ₹1 crore, those in second place ₹50 lakh, and those in third place ₹25 lakh. He said these incentives are designed to encourage healthy competition among municipalities and further elevate Chhattisgarh’s standing on the national cleanliness map.
A major step towards modernising local governance came with the launch of the GIS-based Property Tax Live Portal, enabling residents in 46 cities to pay their property taxes online. The facility covers three municipal corporations—Birgaon, Bhilai-Charoda, and Dhamtari—and 43 municipal councils, offering a convenient, transparent, and efficient platform for tax payments. The initiative is expected to not only make the process easier for citizens but also improve the efficiency of municipal tax collection.
The event also saw the launch of a state-level competition to enhance cleanliness and beautification standards across urban areas, along with the release of a dedicated video on the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 rankings. Senior officials from the Urban Administration and Development Department highlighted that the state has been making steady progress in improving municipal services and infrastructure, with plans for further innovation in public convenience measures.
Dignitaries present included Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao; MLAs Dharamlal Kaushik, Amar Agrawal, Dharamjeet Singh, Dileep Lahariya, and Sushant Shukla; Bilaspur Mayor Pooja Vidhani; CREDA Chairman Bhupendra Savanni; senior bureaucrats; divisional commissioners; municipal commissioners; and representatives from urban bodies across the state.
With the dual focus on infrastructure growth and governance reforms, the day’s announcements signalled the state government’s intent to combine physical development with smart service delivery, ensuring Chhattisgarh’s cities are cleaner, better-equipped, and more citizen-friendly in the years to come.
