Nagpur: As the Centre’s deadline to end Maoist insurgency expired at midnight on Tuesday, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis declared Gadchiroli district free of Left Wing Extremism (LWE), marking a turning point in the region’s long battle with insurgency.In an exclusive interaction with TOI, Fadnavis said the govt will now focus on transforming the district into a ‘Viksit Gadchiroli’, positioning it as a major investment destination driven by mining.“At the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the mission to end Maoist violence was spearheaded by Union home minister Amit Shah. We are pleased to have achieved this milestone in Maharashtra. Many Maoists were rehabilitated, while those who persisted with violence were neutralised,” he said.With insurgency effectively curbed, the govt is rolling out an ambitious development roadmap. “From business and education to roads, railways and an airport, Gadchiroli will see comprehensive growth. It is set to emerge as Maharashtra’s first steel hub of national importance,” Fadnavis said.Progress is already underway. Gondwana University has tied up with an Australian university, enabling tribal students to pursue part of their education abroad. Alongside expansion of state and national highways, dedicated mining corridors have been approved to ease the movement of heavy vehicles.For decades, Gadchiroli remained affected by LWE, constraining development and weakening social infrastructure. A decisive breakthrough came in Oct last year when senior Maoist leader Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Bhupathi surrendered along with 60 others at a public event attended by the chief minister, triggering a wave of surrenders.In Jan, then chief secretary Rajesh Aggarwal noted a perceptible shift in the district’s administrative appeal, saying Gadchiroli was no longer seen as a “punishment posting” but as an opportunity for innovative governance. Aggarwal now serves as the district’s guardian secretary, while Fadnavis is its guardian minister.The state has signed MoUs worth ₹2.61 lakh crore for projects expected to generate around 71,000 jobs. Officials said 90% of those employed in ongoing projects are from local tribal, Dalit and OBC communities, following targeted skill training.With nearly 80% forest cover, the government is positioning Gadchiroli as a green steel hub, aiming to balance industrial expansion with conservation. An afforestation drive to plant five crore trees is part of the plan.
