TFP Bureau, Raipur, December 10, 2025: In a major push to improve connectivity in some of Chhattisgarh’s most remote and forested regions, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday launched the second phase of the Mukhyamantri Gramin Bus Seva Yojana. The Chief Minister virtually flagged off 24 new buses from his residential office in Raipur, marking another milestone in the state’s commitment to strengthening rural transport infrastructure.
The rollout of phase two brings 23 new routes across 10 districts of the Bastar and Surguja divisions under the scheme, enabling 180 additional villages to access direct bus services. Many of these habitations, located deep inside forested terrain, have long struggled with isolation due to lack of dependable transport options.
Residents from several tribal-dominated areas reached the inauguration venue using buses introduced in the first phase of the scheme. Villagers from the Sukma–Dornapal–Konta route shared that they travelled nearly 110 kilometres by bus to attend the event—an arduous journey that once required long walks, multiple vehicle changes, and unsafe travel conditions. They described the new connectivity as a transformative change that is easing access to markets, hospitals, educational institutions, and government services.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said the initiative reflects the government’s resolve to ensure that “no village in Chhattisgarh remains disconnected from mainstream development.” He emphasised that improved public transport is a powerful enabler of social progress, bringing rural communities closer to opportunities in towns and district centres. The expanded bus network is already proving beneficial, he said, by offering safer, timely, and reliable mobility to thousands of people.
Extending greetings to residents of the newly connected villages, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that the strengthened transport links would ease day-to-day hardships, support education and healthcare access, and create new avenues for economic development.
Transport Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap noted that the scheme is now reaching areas where government transport had never operated before. He said the service is particularly significant for the rugged and tribal-majority belts of Bastar and Surguja, where connectivity challenges have historically hindered development.
The first phase of the Mukhyamantri Gramin Bus Seva Yojana was inaugurated on October 4, 2025, by Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, covering 250 villages. With the launch of phase two, the scheme’s reach has expanded substantially, taking the total to more than 430 villages benefitting from new or improved transport access.
Deputy Chief Ministers Shri Vijay Sharma and Shri Arun Sao, several cabinet ministers, Chief Minister’s Secretary Shri Rahul Bhagat, Transport Secretary Shri S. Prakash, and senior officials were present during the virtual flag-off ceremony.
