New Dawn of Growth & Opportunities in the Backward District of Gadchiroli

Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari on Sunday inaugurated three important bridges and two road improvement projects in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. The Minister also laid foundation stones for four other major bridge projects across the rivers Wainganga, Bandiya, Perikota and Perimili. Inaugurating and laying foundation for road projects and bridges is a routine activity of Political leadership. What is important here is the projects that were inaugurated and foundation laid for are all situated in Gadchiroi district of eastern Maharashtra. Gadchiroli has become hot bed or red bastion of Naxal activities in Maharashtra. Along with it Chandrapur, Gondiya, Yavatmal, Bhandara and Nanded districts are also Naxal prone areas. All these districts are situated adjoining to the Naxal-infected areas of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh causing spill over effect in these eastern districts of Maharashtra. This stratigic geographical location coupled with economic backwardness and inaccessible terrain of these districts have made them fertile grounds for Left extremism. Over 90 per cent of Gadchiroli district is a designated forest area and has almost 40 per cent tribal population making it a fertile ground for naxalism to flourish.

 

 

Gadchiroli is one of the least developed districts in Maharashtra where the poorest of the poor live amidst extreme violence and abject poverty. Decades on socio-political and economic well-being has still eluded the people there. Though Naxal presence has made development non-existent. It is ironical that in the name of revolution, Naxals are collecting money and blocking development, the government funds meant for tribal and rural development remain unspent and are falling into the wrong hands. Naxalism has been affecting Gadchiroli district in the worst possible way. Lack of connectivity within the district, State and with adjoining States has led to Gadchiroli becoming a safe hevan for naxals. Dense forest and large perennial rivers criss-crossing the district has posed a worst and unique challenge of connectivity resulting in poor literacy, almost nonexistence of various government welfare schemes here over six decades of independence.

 

The track record of successive governments in Gadchiroli has been disappointing. People in this area even after 63 years of independence are yet to see dawn of development. The governments shall have to find ways to empower the marginalized sections of its population as this would provide equitable economic growth.

 

 

In the last 6 years Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has put development of road network and enhancement of connectivity in naxal, tribal and backward areas on fast track. These initiatives have unlocked the growth potential of these backward regions and provided connectivity to every remote district. With vision of connecting every district with National Highways and special emphasis on Naxal affected districts, Ministry launched a special program for LWE – Left Wing Extremism affected districts. In Maharashtra alone under LWE scheme connectivity program of 495 Km length was announced with investment of more than 920 crores. This program comprised of development of road network and bridges on Pranhita, Indravati and Godavari, the major rivers of Gadchiroli district. NH-63 with total length 56 km passing through Sironcha was the only National Highway in the district. The total length of National Highway in Gadchiroli district has increased from 54 kms to 647 kms during 2014 -2019. 44 more road projects of 541 kms length with an outlay of Rs 1,740 crores for Gadchiroli district. This kind of investment was beyond imagination and thinking of the successive leadership since independence.

 

For the first time in the history, Gadchiroli has seen infrastructure projects of this high magnitude being taken up and completed withing span of 5 years. Successful completion and inauguration of following projects not only signifies the magnitude but also the reach it offers.

 

The major infrastructure initiatives in Gadchiroli that is changing the future of connectivity in naxal affected Gadchiroli include:

 

• 855 metre major bridge across Pranahita river on Nizamabad – Jagdalpur Road (NH 63) at a cost of Rs 168 crores.

 

• 630 metre high level bridge across the Indravati River near Patagudam on Nizamabad – Jagdalpur Road (NH 63) at a cost of Rs 248 crores.

 

• 30 metre high level bridge near Lankachen on Bejurpalli – Aheri Road.

 

 

• Construction of Pranhita bridge at Mah / Telegana border & Indravati bridge at Mah / Chhatisgarh border on NH 63 : Construction of these bridges at cost of Rs. 416 Crore has resulted in connecting Gadchiroli district with rest of the States.

 

• Construction of major bridge and missing approaches of 26 km length at cost of Rs. 292 Cr has connected Gadchiroli with the rest of the Country.

• With improvement of 81 km length NH-930 at cost of Rs. 646 Cr connecting Gadchiroli and Chandrapur district.

 

• Connecting Gadchiroli district with city of Nagpur, by improvement of Nagbhid – Armori section of NH-353D of length 39.76 km has been completed at cost of Rs. 269 Cr.

 

• At the cost Rs. 577 Cr, NH-353C connecting Sakoli, Wadsa, Gadchiroli, Chamorshi, Alapalli and Sironcha connects remotest part of Gadchiroli district with old NH-6 and in turn provides connectivity with rest of the Country.

 

• The tribal areas of Alapalli, Hemalkasa, Bhamragarh are now connected through NH-130D and construction of major bridges across Perimelli, Bandia and Paralkota at cost of Rs. 194 Cr.

4 new Major Bridges on Perimilli, Bandiya ,Pearikota and Waingagana River and 14 Minor Bridges shall ensure seamless transportation in otherwise inaccessible areas of Gadchiroli districts.

 

 

Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari very aptly expressed the sentiments of people of this backward district, he said “With the construction of these key bridges, the National Highway connectivity in Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh –Telangana is complete now. This is a dream which has come true after nearly 25 years, it was conceived when I was a Minister in Maharashtra”. He said “The all-weather road network in far flung areas of Naxal affected districts like Gadchiroli will improve the socio-economic development in the region and in upcoming two years or so the Gadchiroli district will see an all-round transformation”.

 

This remarkable progress of infrastructure development in Gadchiroli district is not a small achievement. We must complimente the engineers and contractors who completed the construction of bridges and roads in Gadchiroli, in the constant environment of fear of Naxal attacks. In fact the bridge across River Indravati was completed under very trying and war like conditions. A police station had to be set up in order to help construct the bridge. Its an excellent manifestation of commitment, political desire and coordination between various government agencies and security forces.

 

India is poised for a high economic growth trajectory. What is urgently needed is to enhance Human Development Index and reduce significantly inter-state and inter-district discrepancies in development. Precisely with this objective Hon’ble Prime Minister felt that focused interventions were necessary where the need was greatest, and launched the ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ programme in January 2018. With this major push to infrastructure the vision for development of backward areas can be a reality. With abundance of natural resources like bamboo, in the district and with renowned focused on Vocal for Local, Gadchiroli can become the hub of Bamboo sticks for Agarbatti manufacturing. More than 100 such units can be set up, which would give employment to local people. With these initiatives job creation in Gadchiroli is very much possible with a target of providing employment to more than 10,000 youth within next 5 years. Improvement of basic infrastructure leads to cascading effect of economic activity and helps FastTrack the progress of important schemes that provide a better living to millions of citizens. The transformation of Gadchiroli also underlines that dawn of growth and opportunity that is about to happen.