Chhattisgarh official discusses implementation of Central schemes, capacity building and long-term urban planning with MoHUA and HUDCO
TFP Bureau, Raipur, September 26,2026: Urban development plans should take into account the specific needs, potential and distinct character of individual cities, Principal Secretary of Chhattisgarh’s Urban Administration and Development Department Sonmoni Borah said at a capacity-building workshop on the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) organised by the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) in New Delhi.
Addressing participants from various States and urban local bodies, Mr. Borah stressed the need for long-term planning, institutional capacity building, effective utilisation of financial resources and better coordination among different government schemes to address the future requirements of cities.
He said urban development strategies should be based on the changing needs and challenges of cities, with greater emphasis on planning and strengthening the institutional capacity of urban local bodies.
Review of Central schemes
Mr. Borah also met Secretary of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Satendra Singh in New Delhi to discuss the progress and implementation of Central schemes in Chhattisgarh.
The discussions covered the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission, AMRUT Mission, PM SVANidhi, PM e-Bus and the Urban Challenge Fund. The two sides also discussed measures to achieve scheme targets and strengthen the capacity of urban local bodies in the State.
City-specific development plans
During a meeting with HUDCO Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Kulshrestha and his team, Mr. Borah discussed long-term and need-based development strategies for Chhattisgarh’s urban local bodies.
The discussions focused on preparing development plans that reflect the local requirements and identity of individual cities. Particular attention was given to cities with industrial, religious, spiritual, tourism, cultural and historical significance, with the aim of ensuring that the expansion of urban infrastructure and services remains aligned with their specific characteristics.
The meeting also examined the scope for incorporating initiatives such as food parks, rental housing, tourism promotion, slum redevelopment and Transit-Oriented Development into city development plans, depending on local requirements.
HUDCO to support project preparation
The officials also discussed the possibility of studying urban development practices and implementation experiences in other States and adapting relevant elements to Chhattisgarh’s requirements and policy framework.
Mr. Kulshrestha agreed to facilitate the preparation of Preliminary Project Reports for urban projects and organise State-level capacity-building workshops for officials and staff of the State and urban local bodies. The workshops will focus on project identification and documentation.
HUDCO also indicated that it would provide technical guidance and explore financial support for urban development projects. Discussions further covered ways to optimise different sources of funding and explore convergence between Central and State schemes for urban infrastructure and development.
