The Chhattisgarh Government has approved seven new bus routes in the Naxal-affected Dantewara and Bijapur districts of south Bastar. The Raman Singh Cabinet recently gave its go-ahead in this regard following a proposal mooted by Bastar range Inspector General of Police R K Vij.The routes approved by the Government include Dornapal to Jagargunda via Chintagufa and Chintalnar (60 km), Kirnadul to Jagargunda via Palnar (120 km), Bijapur to Mistur via Gangalur and Bhairmgarh (35 km), Bijapur to Jagargunda via Basaguda and Aavapalli (81 km), Named to Bedre via Kutru (42 km), Bijapur to Pujari Kanker via Avapalli and Usur (69 km), and Injaram to Bheji via Konta (35 km). Talking to The Indian Express, Vij said, “We have offered an incentive in the form of tax break to the private players and the plan has been approved by the Cabinet. Once operational, we hope that these routes will become an essential part in our fight for establishing normalcy in the area as civilian movement in far flung areas will increase.” Sources said the routes approved by the Government were operational till three years back. However, they were discontinued after renewed Naxalite violence in these areas. “All proposed routes lie on heavily mined roads. We have assured the bus operators that the route would be sanitised before it is opened for the civilian traffic,” Vij added. Security sources said Maoist extremists haven’t attacked civilian transport in the state so far and their targets are confined to either administration or security officials. The private operators are expected to begin operations on these routes within a month. Once operational, these routes are likely to provide a much needed respite to the tribal population of Dantewara and Bijapur districts. “As most of these routes are proposed extensions of already existing bus routes we hope that transporters would readily agree to our proposal,” the IGP added.
