The Chhattisgarh government is set to launch the ‘Adarsh Shehar Samriddhi Yojana’ to strengthen urban infrastructure in municipalities and Nagar Panchayats across the state. The initiative aims to ensure that smaller towns keep pace with Chhattisgarh’s overall urban development.
A budget allocation of Rs 200 crore has been made for the scheme in the 2026–27 financial year. The programme seeks to provide modern civic amenities and planned growth to emerging urban centres, which have traditionally lagged behind larger cities.
The scheme has been modelled on the Mukhyamantri Nagarotthan Yojana, which focuses on strengthening infrastructure in municipal corporations. The new initiative will extend similar support to smaller urban bodies, with an emphasis on balanced and inclusive development.
In the first phase, 32 urban local bodies across five divisions have been selected. These include six each from Bastar, Surguja and Raipur divisions, nine from Bilaspur division, and five from Durg division.
The selected areas include Sukma, Bhopalpatanam, Geedam, Keshkal, Pakhanjore and Narharpur in Bastar division; Pandariya and Khairagarh in Durg division; Kurud, Mahasamund, Arang and Balodabazar in Raipur division; Surajpur, Pathalgaon and Manendragarh in Surguja division; and Takhatpur, Mungeli, Lormi, Janjgir-Naila and Sakti in Bilaspur division, along with several Nagar Panchayats.
To ensure timely implementation, divisional-level committees have been formed under the chairmanship of Joint Directors of the Urban Administration and Development Department.
These committees have been tasked with identifying projects, conducting field inspections, and submitting prioritised proposals with cost estimates within 15 days.
The Chief Engineer of the Directorate’s Mechanical Cell has been appointed as the nodal officer to oversee monitoring and coordination across all five revenue divisions.
Officials said the scheme goes beyond basic infrastructure development and seeks to bring broader urban transformation. It will focus on roads, drainage, water supply, transport, parks, housing, healthcare, education, and community services.
The initiative will also promote employment generation, trade and entrepreneurship, along with e-governance, smart traffic systems, security infrastructure, green spaces, renewable energy, and water conservation measures.
Project selection will be based on local needs, with active participation from municipal chairpersons, councillors, and public representatives. The Chief Municipal Officer of each urban body will serve as the Member Secretary of the respective committee.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to inclusive urban growth. He noted that the scheme would provide smaller towns with a structured push in infrastructure, services, and employment opportunities, helping them develop on par with larger cities.
Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Administration Minister Arun Sao said the scheme would provide a modern development model for small and medium towns. He added that the formation of divisional committees would ensure transparency, timely execution, and improved outcomes for urban residents.