In a bold push toward inclusive growth and regional development, Chief Minister Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai addressed the Chhattisgarh Investor Connect programme held in Jagdalpur. The spotlight was on Bastar, a region once overshadowed by extremism, now emerging as a dynamic hub for industrial investment under the state’s new industrial policy.
Calling Bastar the “heaven of India,” Mr. Sai emphasized the shift from conflict to commerce, saying, “We resolved to bring Bastar into the mainstream, and today it is scripting a golden chapter of investment and growth.” By March 2026, he added, the region is expected to be completely Naxal-free.
Investor Connect: From Tokyo to Bastar, Chhattisgarh Goes Global
After organizing investment summits in Japan (Tokyo and Osaka) and South Korea (Seoul), Chhattisgarh has brought its Investor Connect series to Bastar, reflecting the region’s strategic importance in the state’s development narrative. Mr. Sai stated, “This is the era of bullet train speed, and our policies are keeping pace.”
Framed on the principles of Perform, Reform, and Transform as outlined by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, the new industrial policy aims to create a “Developed India – Developed Chhattisgarh.”
Key Highlights of Chhattisgarh’s New Industrial Policy
The state’s new industrial policy is tailored for rapid expansion and private sector partnership:
- Over 350 reforms for Ease and Speed of Doing Business
- Rs. 6.95 lakh crore worth of investment proposals received so far
- Special incentives for IT, AI, pharma, green energy, textiles, and electronics
- Single-window system for swift approvals
- Targeted incentives for SC-ST entrepreneurs and Naxal-affected families
Investors establishing projects with over Rs. 1,000 crore investment or hiring over 1,000 people will receive additional subsidies. For those employing surrendered Naxalites, 40% salary support for five years (up to Rs. 5 lakh per year) will be offered.
Infrastructure That Drives Development: Bastar’s Transformation in Motion
Mr. Sai highlighted massive infrastructure improvements in Bastar:
- New industrial areas developed in Jagdalpur, Kanker, Dantewada, Sukma, Bijapur, Kondagaon, and Narayanpur
- Expressway to Visakhapatnam under construction
- Raoghat–Jagdalpur rail line and new Telangana rail link progressing
- Maa Danteshwari Airport upgraded under UDAN
- Extensive mobile tower installations for digital connectivity
He added that Nava Raipur now features India’s first AI Data Center Park, a Pharmaceutical Park, a Medicity, and a Global Capability Centre—setting a national benchmark.
Tourism as Industry: New Avenues for Employment and Entrepreneurship
To promote sustainable tourism, Bastar has granted tourism industry status, with:
- 45% subsidy for investors in hotels, eco-tourism, adventure sports, wellness, and homestays
- Special grants for homestay operators and rural entrepreneurs
- Long-term support for investments in agriculture, horticulture, and forest produce processing
These provisions aim to create employment opportunities while preserving Bastar’s natural and cultural heritage.
Skill Development and Local Empowerment Take Centre Stage
Skill development is a cornerstone of Bastar’s transformation. Skill centres are being set up in all 32 blocks of the region, aligned with both core and emerging sectors.
“Bastar’s youth are hardworking and talented; there will be no shortage of skilled manpower here,” Mr. Sai said. Local entrepreneurs are being supported through capital assistance, training, and dedicated state and central government schemes.
Administrative Reforms for Investor Ease
To increase transparency and reduce bureaucratic burden:
- Annual single inspections for industries
- Launch of an Incentive Calculator to determine benefits
- Abolition of multiple departmental rounds for approvals
Industrial Upliftment with Social Equity
Commerce & Industries Minister Mr. Lakhan Lal Dewangan and Deputy CM Mr. Vijay Sharma emphasized that the policy ensures regional equity, promoting backward regions like Bastar as future industrial powerhouses.
Special provisions have been added for:
- Rice mills in Bijapur
- Revival of the Imli Mandi in Jagarugunda
- Promotion of sal seed and tamarind-based industries for cosmetics and food sectors
Certificates of incentives were distributed to 34 new industrial units, underlining the momentum of industrial activity in the region.
