Union Home Minister Amit Shah launches Chief Minister Rural Bus Scheme

Residents of remote areas of Bastar and Surguja will now become participants in the journey from development to trust – Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah

Our government is working rapidly to enhance public facilities – Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai

Bastar and Surguja regions included in the first phase: Passenger bus service to reach 250 villages across 11 districts of both divisions for the first time

Raipur, Oct, 2025: The end of Naxalism in Bastar will happen soon, and by establishing peace in the region, we will carve new dimensions of development. The residents of remote areas of Bastar and Surguja will now become participants in the journey from development to trust and play their role in building a developed Chhattisgarh. Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said this while inaugurating the Chief Minister Rural Bus Scheme from Jagdalpur. On this occasion, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah and Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai flagged off the passenger buses and extended best wishes to the residents for this special initiative.

Union Home Minister Shri Shah said that the double-engine government is working with commitment for the development of Chhattisgarh. The end of the red terror will connect the remote areas of the state to the mainstream of development. The passenger bus service launched today will bring new energy into the lives of our citizens. He said that now the people of 250 villages will be able to easily reach their nearby government offices, schools, and hospitals.

Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, congratulating the residents of the region, said that our government is working swiftly to enhance public facilities. The objective of the Chief Minister Rural Bus Scheme is to ensure bus operations in villages deprived of passenger bus facilities. Through this, people will be able to reach their destinations on time at low cost. It will also bring convenience in daily work, official tasks, and other activities.

It is noteworthy that the Chief Minister Rural Bus Scheme has been started with the aim of strengthening transport facilities in rural and remote areas. The objective of this ambitious scheme is to extend bus service to those villages where public transport facilities have not been available till now. This initiative will provide the rural population with a safe, timely, and comfortable mode of travel, which will play an important role in improving their standard of living.

Focus on Bastar and Surguja in the first phase

In the first phase of the scheme, Bastar and Surguja divisions have been given priority. A total of 34 buses will start operating on 34 routes in these regions. Through this initiative, 250 new villages across 11 districts will be connected by bus service. This effort will prove to be a boon especially for those rural areas where road connectivity is limited and people have to cover long distances on foot to reach district headquarters or other important places.

Connectivity from Gram Panchayat to District Headquarters

The main objective of the Chief Minister Rural Bus Scheme is to ensure seamless bus connectivity from the gram panchayat to the district headquarters. This will make it easier for rural residents to access essential services like health, education, employment, and markets. The buses operated under the scheme will ensure timely and safe travel, saving both time and resources for the rural population.

To ensure the long-term success of the scheme, the government has made a provision to provide viability gap funding to bus operators. This financial support will make the operators economically capable so that they can continue providing services in these remote areas. This step will not only strengthen transport facilities but also contribute to employment generation at the local level.

Achievement of connecting 250 villages with bus service for the first time

Under this scheme, around 250 villages are being connected to bus services for the first time. This is a historic step for rural Chhattisgarh, which will accelerate social and economic development. Villagers will no longer have to walk long distances or depend on private vehicles for their essential needs.

A step towards inclusive development

On the launch of this scheme, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said that our goal is that no village of Chhattisgarh should remain untouched by the mainstream of development. The Chief Minister Rural Bus Scheme is an effort to make the lives of rural people easier and connect them with cities. This scheme will not only provide transport facilities but also strengthen the rural economy. It will prove to be a milestone not only from the point of view of transportation but also in the direction of social and economic equality.