Raipur-Durg Metro: Connecting Chhattisgarh's Future

The Chhattisgarh government has approved the Raipur–Durg Metro rail project, marking a major milestone in the formation of the State Capital Region (SCR), modeled on the lines of the National Capital Region (NCR).

This transformative initiative aims to integrate Raipur with the Durg-Bhilai industrial belt into a cohesive urban cluster, enhancing connectivity, easing traffic congestion, and enabling coordinated infrastructure development. The region is projected to be home to over five million residents by 2031.

To kick-start the project, the state has allocated ₹50 million in the 2024–25 budget for a comprehensive metro feasibility study.

As part of the SCR initiative, the government has also approved the creation of the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA), which will oversee regional planning and implementation. Chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, the CRDA will include cabinet ministers, senior bureaucrats, MLAs, and urban local body representatives. A Chief Executive Officer will serve as the Member-Secretary.

The CRDA will be responsible for land use planning, infrastructure investment, and environmental governance across the SCR. It will also have the authority to levy a special infrastructure cess to fund large-scale projects such as the metro. The authority will submit regular budgets and progress reports to the state government.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.