Chattisgarh was created out of 16 districts of Madhya Pradesh on 1st November, 2000. With a 44% forest area, an overwhelmingly large tribal population and abundant mineral resources, this young state has embarked on a multi-sectoral growth plan to achieve the targets of the Chhattisgarh – Vision 2010.
While the State administration is based in Raipur, a new capital for Chhattisgarh at an investment of Rs. 40,000 crore on an area of 36,000 hectares to accommodate 5.4 lakh people is being planned. In the 1st phase of the project to be completed by 2011, ambitious commercial and residential projects in Chhattisgarh will be executed. An IT Park, a township with a golf course, a capitol complex and a five-star hotel will be developed by IL &FS Infrastructure Development Corporation, partners and advisors to the project. The 2nd and 3rd phases of the city will be completed by 2021 and 2031.
Chhattisgarh has attracted considerable foreign direct investment, such as the Greenfield coal-based power generation plant by US based AES Corporation at a cost of $1.22 billion. Investment in infrastructure and industrial projects has also been forthcoming from Indian business houses. -the Vedanta Group, BALCO and The Tata Power Company will make investments worth Rs. 20,000 crore in steel, aluminium and power generation. The state is actively pursuing the bio-diesel project from Jatropha plantations.
While the State depends heavily on agriculture, the thrust is on industrial development, and particularly Information Technology. The State aims to make substantial investments in IT by building on educational and training facilities and R&D infrastructure. Establishing of software parks and invitations to private investment in IT infrastructure is high on the state’s agenda.
The state Government has also taken initiatives to promote Chhattisgarh as a “tourist destination of choice”. It has announced tax incentives and other sops to the private sector for investment in the hospitality sector in Chhatisgarh. A camp site near the Chitrakote waterfalls, open air amphitheatre at Rajim, and a herbal resort at Asna are some of the facilities the Chhatisgarh Tourism board has developed. Other attractions include Kawardha and Bastar.