Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated a slew of development and infrastructure projects worth over ₹14,260 crore in Chhattisgarh and dedicated the State’s new Legislative Assembly building and Digital Tribal Museum to the people on the occasion of Chhattisgarh’s 25th Foundation Day.
Addressing a massive gathering at Nava Raipur, the Prime Minister said the State had “travelled a long way from its early struggles” and was “now moving rapidly on the path of progress”. He congratulated the people of Chhattisgarh for completing 25 years since statehood, calling the milestone “a symbol of hope, hard work, and transformation.”
Mr Modi said it was a matter of personal pride for him to be part of the State’s Silver Jubilee celebrations. “As a BJP party worker, I have witnessed the days before Chhattisgarh’s formation and also its journey since then. To stand here today and see its progress fills me with pride,” he said.
The Prime Minister launched and laid foundation stones for projects across key sectors― roads, healthcare, energy, industry, and rural housing. Among the highlights were the four-lane Greenfield highway from Pathalgaon–Kunkuri to the Jharkhand border under the Bharatmala Pariyojana, major power transmission and distribution upgrades under the RDSS scheme, and the Nagpur–Jharsuguda Natural Gas Pipeline, which will connect 11 districts of Chhattisgarh to the national gas grid.
PM Modi also inaugurated the HPCL petroleum depot in Raipur, a pharmaceutical park in Nava Raipur, and five new government medical colleges at Manendragarh, Kabirdham, Janjgir–Champa, Bilaspur, and Geedam in Dantewada. These, he said, would expand healthcare access and create new opportunities for education and employment.
“In 25 years, Chhattisgarh has grown from a single medical college to 14 medical colleges and an AIIMS,” he noted, adding that new infrastructure projects reflected the government’s “commitment to inclusive growth”.
Highlighting the government’s welfare measures, the Prime Minister said over 3.5 lakh rural families in Chhattisgarh were entering their new homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), while nearly ₹1,200 crore was released to three lakh additional beneficiaries.
He said that every initiative, from housing and electrification to the Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, was designed to restore dignity and opportunity to the poor. “We are building not just homes, but confidence and hope for millions,” he said.
He pointed out that electricity now reaches every village in the State and that regions once cut off from the rest of the country were now connected by roads, power and internet. “Earlier, even an LPG connection was a distant dream. Today, clean energy has reached the homes of the poor, Dalits, and tribals,” PM Modi remarked.
A major focus of the Prime Minister’s speech was the recognition of tribal contributions to India’s history. “Our constant endeavour is to ensure that the contributions of tribal communities are celebrated with pride,” he said.
Inaugurating Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum, he said the centre would narrate “150 years of tribal resistance and valour” through interactive displays and modern digital installations. “This museum will serve as both a reflection of history and a source of inspiration for generations to come,” he said.
He added that the government’s PM Janman Mission and Dharti Aba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, worth nearly ₹80,000 crore, were transforming the lives of tribal families through education, health, and livelihood initiatives.
Striking an emotional note, PM Modi said that after decades of suffering due to Maoist violence, Chhattisgarh is now “writing a new chapter of peace and progress”. He cited recent surrenders of over 200 Maoists in Bastar and 21 in Kanker, calling them a sign that “faith in democracy is replacing fear of the gun.” “Eleven years ago, more than 125 districts were affected by Maoist violence. Today, only three remain,” he said. “That day is not far when our Chhattisgarh and our nation will be completely free from Maoist terrorism.”
He recalled visiting areas where schools and hospitals are now being built for the first time since independence. “The villages that once raised the red flag now proudly hoist the tricolour,” he said, referring to Bastar’s transformation. “This is the new face of Chhattisgarh, one of courage, faith, and renewal.”
Concluding his address, Mr Modi urged the youth to take pride in the State’s progress and to dedicate themselves to building a “Viksit Bharat” — a developed and self-reliant India. “This is your time. There is no dream you cannot achieve,” he said, promising that the Centre would stand with the youth “at every step and with every resolve.”
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, welcoming the Prime Minister, said the Silver Jubilee marked “not just a celebration of the past, but the dawn of a new Chhattisgarh — confident, capable, and committed to progress.” The Prime Minister’s address was attended by Governor Ramen Deka, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Assembly Speaker Dr Raman Singh, and Union Ministers Jual Oram, Durga Das Uikey, and Tokan Sahu, along with senior officials and legislators.