Chief Minister inaugurates first regional workshop on Urban Challenge Fund and Urban Invest Window in Nava Raipur; MoUs with HUDCO and CEPT University aim to strengthen urban planning, financing and technical capacity.
NAVA RAIPUR (Economy India): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has called on urban local bodies to prepare high-quality, financially viable and future-ready development projects, saying the ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund offers a major opportunity to accelerate planned urban development across the state.
Addressing the first regional workshop on the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) and Urban Invest Window (UiWIN) at Mayfair Lake Resort in Nava Raipur, Sai said cities would play a crucial role in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat and Viksit Chhattisgarh by 2047.
The workshop was organised jointly by the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) and the Chhattisgarh government’s Department of Urban Administration and Development.
The Chief Minister emphasised that cities must be developed not only to meet present-day requirements but also to address the needs of future generations. He said urban centres are important drivers of economic activity, industry, trade, employment and innovation, making planned, inclusive and sustainable development essential.
Two MoUs Signed to Strengthen Urban Development
Two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed during the workshop to improve urban governance, project planning, financial management and institutional capacity in Chhattisgarh.
The first agreement was signed between HUDCO and the state’s Department of Urban Administration and Development. The second was signed between the department and CEPT University.
According to the government release, these partnerships will help urban local bodies prepare better development proposals, mobilise financial resources, access technical expertise and strengthen training and institutional capabilities.
Sai said collaboration between government departments, financial institutions and specialist organisations was necessary to develop cities in line with their actual requirements.
The partnerships are expected to support the preparation and effective implementation of quality urban infrastructure projects.
₹1 Lakh Crore Fund Offers Opportunity for Chhattisgarh Cities
Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Administration and Development Minister Arun Sao said the Union government had provided for a ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund, presenting a significant opportunity for the state’s urban centres.
He said the key challenge would be to prepare technically sound, high-quality and financially viable projects that enable urban local bodies to secure maximum benefits from the fund.
Sao stressed the need to move beyond traditional approaches to urban administration and adopt modern technology, innovation and improved project-management practices.
He also highlighted the importance of planning for the entire life cycle of infrastructure projects, including their operation, maintenance and financial sustainability.
He said public money must be used responsibly and projects should deliver lasting benefits to citizens and future generations.
Urban Planning Must Address Long-Term Civic Challenges
Sai urged municipal corporations, municipalities and nagar panchayats to develop long-term solutions to the problems faced by residents.
He identified drinking water, drainage, roads, electricity, sanitation, transportation and other civic services as key areas requiring coordinated planning.
Highlighting recurring urban waterlogging during the monsoon, the Chief Minister called for effective drainage systems that offer permanent solutions rather than temporary relief.
He also raised concerns about poorly organised overhead electricity and utility wires, which can create difficulties when processions or large vehicles pass through city streets.
Where feasible, he said, urban bodies should consider underground cabling for electricity and other services.
Sai emphasised that water supply, roads, electricity, drainage and sanitation must be planned as interconnected components of an integrated urban development strategy rather than as isolated projects.
Cities Must Attract Investment and Create Jobs
The Chief Minister said well-planned cities could strengthen Chhattisgarh’s economy by attracting investment, supporting industrial and commercial activity and creating new employment opportunities.
He noted that the state government had prepared a vision document for Viksit Chhattisgarh in alignment with the national goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
According to Sai, the state must develop urban centres that combine high-quality basic services with a business-friendly environment and sustainable economic growth.
He called on elected representatives and municipal officials to understand the specific needs of their cities, study the provisions of the Urban Challenge Fund and consult experts before preparing development proposals.
Projects, he said, should be technically robust, economically viable and capable of delivering measurable benefits to residents.
Centre Highlights Financially Sustainable Urban Infrastructure
Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu said rapid urbanisation was increasing demand for housing, drinking water, roads, transportation and sanitation.
He highlighted the contribution of national initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban, Swachh Bharat Mission and AMRUT in expanding civic amenities and improving living standards.
Sahu said urban local bodies needed stronger financial capabilities to meet growing infrastructure requirements. Alongside government assistance, he encouraged the effective use of bank financing, market-based funding and public-private partnerships.
He also cited waste-to-energy initiatives in Jabalpur and technology-enabled water management and monitoring in Hyderabad as examples that Chhattisgarh’s urban bodies could study and adapt to local conditions.
Tribal Development and Infrastructure Also in Focus
Sai highlighted the importance of ensuring that development reaches the last person in society.
He referred to the PM-JANMAN scheme, which seeks to improve access to essential facilities such as roads, electricity, housing and drinking water in settlements of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. He also highlighted the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan.
The Chief Minister pointed to railway infrastructure developments in the state, including the expansion of rail connectivity towards the Rowghat region in Bastar and the launch of rail services between Raipur and Kurud.
He said progress in addressing Naxalism had strengthened opportunities for development and investment in the resource-rich state.
Sai called for coordinated efforts to build a prosperous Chhattisgarh that contributes significantly to India’s development vision for 2047.
Workshop Focuses on Project Preparation and Capacity Building
The regional workshop covered financial resource mobilisation, project feasibility, modern urban planning, infrastructure implementation and the different aspects of the Urban Challenge Fund and Urban Invest Window.
The agreements involving the state government, HUDCO and CEPT University are intended to provide urban local bodies with technical guidance, financial management support, training and institutional capacity development.
Mayors representing all 14 municipal corporations in Chhattisgarh, municipal council representatives, senior state officials, HUDCO CMD Sanjay Kulshreshtha, Telangana urban administration secretary Dr T. K. Sri Devi, CEPT University president Barjor Mehta and other public representatives and experts attended the workshop.
The initiative marks a push towards more coordinated and financially sustainable urban development, with the state government urging local bodies to prepare projects that address present civic challenges while anticipating the needs of rapidly growing cities.
(Economy India)
