TFP Bureau, Raipur, September 23, 2025:On the auspicious occasion of Navratri, Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai visited the bustling markets of Raipur to review the ongoing GST Savings Festival, receiving an unprecedented welcome from Jaistambh Chowk to Gurunanak Chowk. His visit brought a festive atmosphere to MG Road and surrounding areas, where traders and shoppers expressed enthusiasm over the benefits of GST 2.0. The new tax regime, introduced under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has simplified processes, reduced rates, and created direct savings for consumers while giving a strong boost to business activity.
The Chief Minister began his market tour with prayers at the Shri Shankar Hanuman Temple at Sharda Chowk before walking through Mahatma Gandhi Marg, personally visiting shops and interacting with traders and customers. Shopkeepers decorated their establishments, showered flowers, and raised slogans of “Thank you Modi ji,” celebrating the tax reforms. At each stop, Sai listened to the experiences of both sellers and buyers, pasting GST Savings Festival stickers on shops and highlighting the positive changes brought about by GST 2.0.
Among the many testimonies, Ms. Richa Thakur of Samta Colony shared how the GST rate cut saved her hostel ₹25,000 while purchasing five air-conditioners. Shopkeeper Mohan Nebhani of MS Traders told the Chief Minister that reduced tax rates had revived demand, with families saving ₹1,000 to ₹2,000 per purchase. Similar responses came from electronics stores, toy shops, and household goods outlets, where traders noted increased customer confidence and higher sales volumes.
Chief Minister Sai remarked that the GST reforms would accelerate economic activity and create new local employment opportunities. He explained that under GST 2.0, essential items such as soap, toothpaste, bicycles, and kitchen goods now attract just a 5 percent tax, enabling families to save between ₹3,000 and ₹5,000 annually. Food items including bread, milk, packaged snacks, and pulses have been made completely tax-free, offering additional yearly savings of ₹2,500 to ₹3,500. Similarly, health and life insurance policies will now cost significantly less, with families saving up to ₹10,000 annually on premiums.
Sai emphasized that these reforms mark the beginning of a new chapter in India’s economic growth. With only two simplified tax slabs, the system has become more transparent and business-friendly, creating a positive environment for investment and trade. He called upon traders to expand local production and urged citizens to embrace the spirit of self-reliance by choosing Swadeshi goods, declaring, “I buy Swadeshi and sell Swadeshi.”
The Chief Minister concluded by noting that the confluence of Navratri festivities and the GST 2.0 reforms has brought a double celebration for both traders and consumers, promising long-term benefits for industry, commerce, and employment across the country.
The event was marked by widespread participation of traders, business organizations, and citizens, who welcomed Sai warmly throughout the tour. He was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Kedar Kashyap, MLA Sunil Soni, Purandar Mishra, Motilal Sahu, NAN President Sanjay Srivastava, Amit Chimnani, Ramesh Thakur, Nandan Jain, and other dignitaries, who joined in celebrating the new era of simplified taxation and economic optimism.
