Raipur, (VW) The Government of India has approved central assistance of ₹195 crore for Chhattisgarh for the financial year 2025–26 to improve rural connectivity in Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected regions. The funds have been sanctioned under the Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA) scheme.

The approval, issued under the Single Nodal Agency SPARSH model, includes a programme fund of ₹190.61 crore and an administrative fund of ₹4.39 crore. The funds will be disbursed through the Reserve Bank of India.

The financial support will be used for the construction, upgradation, and maintenance of rural roads in remote and tribal areas. This includes building all-weather roads, bridges, and cross-drainage systems, with a special focus on regions prone to floods. The initiative is expected to improve access to essential services such as block and district headquarters, markets, schools, and health centres, thereby enhancing governance and socio-economic mobility. Districts like Dantewada, Bijapur, Sukma, Narayanpur, Kanker, and Bastar are among those that will benefit from the project.

The administrative fund will support monitoring, technical assistance, capacity building, and data management. The sanction also includes adjustments for previously released funds from earlier batches of the scheme. The Ministry of Rural Development has urged the Chhattisgarh government to ensure the timely and proper utilisation of the funds. Upon completion of the scheme, any unutilised central share must be returned to the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI).

The approval, granted by the Ministry of Rural Development in consultation with the Integrated Finance Division, is seen as a crucial step towards fostering inclusive growth and peace in the state’s LWE-affected regions.