Infra-heavy budget bets on roads, water grid and regional air links in Chhattisgarh budget

RAIPUR: Infrastructure gets focus in Chhattisgarh’s 2026–27 budget, with the government rolling out a broad push across roads, irrigation, drinking water systems, airports and power networks.

At the core is a ₹9,450 crore allocation for the Public Works Department, for continued and massive expansion of the road network. The budget announced by state finance minister OP Choudhary at new Vidhan Sabha building for the first time in Nava Raipur, included a ₹200-crore Mukhyamantri Drutgami Sadak Sampark Yojana, aimed at building high-speed 2- and 4-lane corridors, alongside ₹50 crore for bridges and roads in unconnected remote villages.

The dual approach indicates a push to upgrade major routes while simultaneously improving last-mile connectivity in interior areas.

Water infrastructure forms the second pillar of the capital push. The budget provided ₹3,500 crore for the water resources department and nearly ₹4,000 crore for public health engineering works, covering irrigation expansion and drinking water supply networks. Together with around ₹3,000 crore for rural infrastructure and ₹2,150 crore for urban development, the allocations underline an effort to strengthen both farm resilience and urban services.

Connectivity also extends to the skies. The budget earmarks ₹80 crore for infra development at Bilaspur, Ambikapur and Jagdalpur airports, with aviation adding on to supporting layers for regional integration, especially for tribal and interior districts. The power sector sees targeted upgrades with ₹100 crore for 90 new 33/11 KV substations, aimed at strengthening distribution networks, alongside ₹400 crore for the PM Surya Ghar free electricity scheme to expand rooftop solar adoption.