Nagpur: Once the fulcrum of the Red Corridor with 20 guerrilla formations and the dreaded Company 10 housed in the rebel headquarters of Abujmarh, Gadchiroli is now surging ahead as a vibrant economic corridor with 140 development projects of Rs 6,500 crore kicking off, over and above the mega projects, including a steel hub announced by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.This transformation is powered by the govt’s massive infrastructure push, which is monitored by district collector Avishyant Panda. These initiatives are rapidly bridging the infrastructure gap that once helped sustain insurgency, with focus on roads, bridges, irrigation, health facilities and urban amenities. “Roads and bridges are improving connectivity in remote forested areas that were long inaccessible due to security concerns,” said an official.The public works department (roads) is executing seven key projects of almost ₹2,100 crore, while the National Highways division is handling eight works valued at almost ₹900 crore.Notable initiatives include the 28km Ghugus to Rajoli road (₹199 crore), the 36.9-km Gadchiroli to Armori stretch (₹498.06 crore), and multiple upgrades on NH-353C and NH-930. Several bridges and culverts have been completed or are advancing steadily, with many receiving Stage-II environmental and forest clearances. “The all-weather roads and sturdy bridges are reducing travel time and enhancing market access for tribal farmers,” said a key official from Gadchiroli district administration office.Irrigation projects are transforming the rural economy by bringing water to vast tracts of land previously under Maoist influence. Seven major schemes of over ₹2,000 crore are underway under the minor irrigation division. The flagship irrigation projects include Kotgal Barrage with ₹696 crore budget, with full environmental clearances and Dongargaon-Thanegaon project of ₹177 crore.The two additional schemes — Mahagav Ghat (₹230 crore) and Devalmari (₹210 crore) — received administrative approval on Jan 6. “Once completed, these will irrigate thousands of hectares, boosting paddy, soybean and horticulture production and provide a sustainable livelihood boost to local communities,” said an official.Health infrastructure is also seeing significant upgrade, addressing long-standing gaps in medical services for remote tribal hamlets.The district civil surgeon’s office has completed three major projects of ₹78 crore, including upgradation of the primary health centre at Kotgal, construction of an ICCU building, and expansion of the rural hospital at Chamorshi from 30 to 50 beds. These modern facilities are bringing quality healthcare closer to residents, marking a crucial step in improving overall well-being in the district.Complementing these efforts are vital initiatives like the 811 urban projects by the Gadchiroli Municipal Council (₹786.95 crore), 52 district mineral funded schemes (₹256.94 crore), 21 district planning initiatives for 2024-26 (₹60.19 crore), and the landmark Wadsa-Gadchiroli new broad gauge railway line worth ₹1,886 crore, spanning 52.68km across 23 villages and now completed with rehabilitation.District collector Avishyant Panda has been driving the multi-sectoral development through regular review meetings, ensuring timely clearances and quality execution despite the challenging terrain. Panda’s proactive efforts have helped overcome past delays caused by Naxal threats, accelerating projects that are fundamentally altering the district’s landscape.From robust roads and bridges to reliable irrigation networks and upgraded health facilities, this comprehensive push is changing the ground reality in Gadchiroli.
