Raipur: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has taken a firm stance on the quality and timely completion of road construction projects across Chhattisgarh. During a high-level review meeting of the Public Works Department (PWD) held at Mahanadi Bhavan, CM Sai directed officials to ensure strict quality checks and warned that negligence or substandard work will not be tolerated. Defaulters, including contractors, will face action, and repeat offenders may be blacklisted.
Emphasis on Field Monitoring and Quality Checks
CM Sai emphasized that road quality must be monitored during construction rather than only after completion. He stated that roads are not just technical projects but vital infrastructure that directly impacts citizens and the government’s credibility. Highlighting the rapid deterioration of the Bagbahar–Kotba road, he instructed officials to investigate construction flaws and ensure stringent quality supervision on all projects moving forward.
Transparency and Timely Completion of Projects
The CM instructed that every stage of road construction, from tender issuance to project award, must adhere to strict timelines. He highlighted the issue of low-bid contracts, which often compromise quality and timely delivery, and stressed that contractors must be held accountable for meeting both standards and deadlines. CM Sai also called for a clear regulatory framework and suggested studying best practices from other states to improve Chhattisgarh’s road infrastructure.
Priority to Remote and Rain-Affected Villages
Approximately 300 villages in the state face seasonal connectivity challenges. CM Sai directed that these villages be connected through roads and bridges as a priority project, citing situations where sick patients had to be transported on makeshift stretchers due to poor road access. Special focus was given to constructing the Lailunga–Kunjara–Tolge Pahad–Milupura–Tamnara route to improve access for densely populated areas.
Major Highway and Infrastructure Updates
The meeting also reviewed progress on several major projects, including:
- Manendragarh–Surajpur–Ambikapur–Patthalgaon–Kunkuri–Jashpur–Jharkhand Border National Highway (NH-43) – 353 km in length
- Patthalgaon–Kunkuri stretch – land acquisition updates
- Ambikapur–Semarasot–Ramanujganj–Gadwa route, Geedam–Dantewada route, Champa–Sakti–Raigarh–Odisha border route, Raipur–Durg route, and Chilfi region roads
The meeting also focused on bridge and culvert construction in Bastar and the upcoming express road network plan.
Modernization of Government Buildings
CM Sai stressed the need for modern designs in government buildings, encouraging vertical construction and functional designs over traditional horizontal layouts. He directed that ongoing projects like the Rajbhavan Guest House be completed with modern and dignified architecture.
Road Development as a Public Priority
The CM highlighted that roads are highly visible to the public, and their quality reflects on the government’s image. He instructed PWD to develop a system for real-time monitoring of road defects to ensure immediate repairs and maintain public trust.
Officials Present
The review meeting was attended by Deputy CM & PWD Minister Arun Sao, Chief Secretary Vikas Sheel, CM Principal Secretary Subodh Kumar Singh, PWD Secretary Dr. Kamalpreet Singh, and senior PWD officials.
