Deputy CM Arun Sao leads dialogue on urban planning with Chhattisgarh mayors
RAIPUR: In a move to streamline
urban governance
and planning,
Chhattisgarh
's Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Administration and Development Minister
Arun Sao
has called for a two-day conclave named 'Nagar Suraj Sangam' in Raipur on Monday and Tuesday. The event brought together newly elected mayors, municipal council presidents, and urban body representatives from across the state to chart out the next five years of urban development.
The initiative aims to foster direct dialogue between the government and newly elected local representatives and will focus on structured urban development, policy implementation, and citizen services.
Minister Sao led a high-level training session under the programme.
Sao outlined a comprehensive
urban development roadmap
. The audience included Mayors, Council Chairpersons, MIC members, Commissioners, and senior engineers from the state's 14 municipal corporations.
Deputy CM Sao delved into key areas such as implementation of the Atal Vishwas Patra promises, challenges faced by urban bodies, citizen expectations and the duties of elected representatives, sanitation, waste management, and cleanliness.
Sao highlighted model urban practices from Indian cities such as Coimbatore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Indore, and Pimpri-Chinchwad, as well as innovative initiatives from Gujarat and Telangana. He also shared international best practices from Denmark, Singapore, Germany, and Japan, focusing on cost-effective urban resource management and cutting-edge recycling and reuse innovations.
In personalized invitation letters sent to all urban representatives, Deputy CM Sao extended congratulations on their recent electoral victories and emphasized the importance of their role in delivering good governance.
"You are the first citizens of your respective cities. With that comes greater responsibility. Our government is committed to making our cities cleaner, more beautiful, and more functional—with your support," his letter stated.
The workshop is expected to cover, five-year development plans for each urban local body, roles and responsibilities under various government schemes, best practices for efficient municipal management and real-time feedback and suggestions from local representatives.
This initiative comes as part of the state's
'
Sushasan (Good Governance)' drive, aiming to ensure transparency, efficiency, and inclusive growth at the grassroots urban level.
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