Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai hails state budget, says it will shape golden future

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Monday hailed the state budget 2025-26, saying it will not only shape the state's golden future but will take all the sections of society to new heights
State finance minister OP Choudhary on Monday presented a Rs 1,65,000 crore budget for the fiscal 2025-26 on the theme 'GATI', focusing on Good Governance, Accelerating Infrastructure, Technology and Industrial Growth.
After the presentation of the budget, chief minister Sai told reporters in a press conference, "This budget is for the golden future of Chhattisgarh and will take every section to new heights." He said the budget last year was based on the theme of GYAN (Gareeb, Yuva, Annadata and Nari) and focused on developing these four segments.
“This budget has been prepared keeping in mind the current needs while aligning with the future infrastructure requirements of a developed Chhattisgarh. The budget not only focuses on improving the agricultural economy, which has made Chhattisgarh the rice bowl of India, but also lays a solid foundation for transforming Chhattisgarh into an industrial and IT hub. We inherited a legacy of a weakened treasury and mis-governance in the state but through fiscal reforms and improvements in administrative systems, we have started welfare activities for the public with a balanced use of the budget,” CM Sai said.
Chhattisgarh will need infrastructure that meets the requirements of a developed industrial state, and provisions have been made in the budget for this.
The budget also includes provisions for preserving human resources, including the establishment of new hospitals and schools, along with adequate staffing. To meet the needs of industrial policy, we will establish 12 engineering colleges and 12 polytechnic colleges, CM Said.
Our budget is inclusive and has been prepared in line with our motto of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, SabkaPrayas." With this budget, our state will take a new flight with renewed resolutions to fulfil its dreams.
Stating that Chhattisgarh is the first state to have a good governance and convergence department, CM Sai said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government worked hard for the development of GYANand now it will gain pace that’s why this budget is called GATI (Good Governance, Accelerating Infrastructure, Technology, Industrial Growth)', Sai said.
However, former chief minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel said that it’s a very disappointing budget having nothing for farmers, unemployed, inflation. There has been no work done on ‘GYAN’ as promised, how will it get ‘GATI’? he asked.
Baghel further criticized that the budget has no mention of cooking gas cylinders at Rs 500 as promised by the BJP in its 'Modi ki Guarantee' poll promises.