Modi Launches Major Projects in Chhattisgarh, Telangana

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched and laid foundation stones for various development projects in the poll-bound states Chhattisgarh and Telangana.

He launched projects worth INR 270 billion ($3.24 billion) in Chhattisgarh and INR 80 billion ($962 million) in Telangana.

The development projects in Chhattisgarh included the NMDC Steel Ltd’s steel plant at Nagarnar, which is a greenfield project that will produce high-quality steel.

Ahead of the programme, Modi offered prayers at the Danteshwari Temple in the Bastar region of the state.

Sharing photographs on X (formerly known as Twitter), Modi said: "Offered prayers at Danteshwari Temple and wished for the progress and happiness of people of Chhattisgarh."

Modi Offers Prayers Danteshwari Temple in Bastar in Poll-Bound Chhattisgarh

The prime minister also dedicated a new railway line between Antagarh and Taroki, and a rail line doubling project between Jagdalpur and Dantewara, along with laying the foundation stone of the Boridand -Surajpur rail line doubling project, and redevelopment of Jagdalpur Station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.

While inaugurating the steel plant, the PM said the steel produced in Bastar will strengthen the armed forces, along with boosting defence exports, and that it will also provide employment opportunities for approximately 50,000 people.

Meanwhile, officials, while talking to the media about the railway projects, said they will enhance the connectivity in the tribal regions of the state. “The improved rail infrastructure and the new train service will benefit the local people and help in the economic development of the region,” the officials stated.

Later, while addressing a rally in Jagdalpur, Modi said that the budgetary allocation for railway projects in the state has been increased by 20 times in the last nine years, as compared to what was given before 2014.

“The dream of a developed Bharat will be realised only when states, districts and villages in the country develop”, he stated.

Later in the evening, he reached Nizamabad in Telangana, where he launched projects worth INR 80 billion ($962 million) and addressed a public rally.

The projects launched by the PM in Telangana included the inauguration of the first 800 MW unit of phase one of the Telangana Super Thermal Power Project of the NTPC, a new railway line connecting Manoharabad and Siddipet, an electrification project between Dharmabad-Manoharabad and Mahabubnagar-Kurnool, and laying the foundation stone of 20 critical care blocks (CCBs) under the Pradhan Mantri - Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission.

The Manoharabad and Siddipet rail line project is aimed at enhancing the socio-economic development of the region, especially in the districts of Medak and Siddipet, while the electrification project of the railway line between Dharmabad-Manoharabad and Mahabubnagar-Kurnool will improve the average speed of the trains and lead to environmentally friendly rail transport in the region.

He launched a scathing attack on the Telangana-ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party in his address, as he said that the federal government had given money to the state government for the development, but that the BRS had unfortunately indulged in looting the money.

Modi received a grand welcome in Telangana as thousands of people were present to attend his rally.

Congress won the previous state assembly election in Chhattisgarh as it emerged victorious on 68 out of 90 seats, while the BJP won only 15. However, in Telangana, the BRS reached the majority mark by winning 63 seats out 119, while Congress came in second with 21 seats, and BJP got only five seats.