Chhattisgarh's Capital Attraction: A ₹6,826 Crore Investment Surge
The state of Chhattisgarh has successfully drawn investment proposals worth a substantial ₹6,826 crore during a high-profile investor roadshow held in New Delhi. The event, which signals a major push by the state to attract private capital, also indicated the potential creation of over 3,000 new jobs across key sectors.
Roadshow Highlights and Key Proposals
Organized by the Government of Chhattisgarh's Department of Commerce and Industries and Department of Tourism in partnership with industry chamber FICCI, the 'Chhattisgarh Investor Connect' event served as a platform to showcase the state's new Industrial Development Policy 2024–30. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai actively participated, meeting with industry representatives to discuss opportunities.
One of the most significant individual proposals came from the APL Apollo Industries Group. The group's Chairman, Sanjay Gupta, met with the Chief Minister and expressed intent to invest approximately ₹1,200 crore in new industrial projects within the state. As part of its broader corporate social responsibility plan, the group also proposed establishing a 100-bed charitable hospital.
The Policy Push: From Ease to Speed of Business
State officials at the event emphasized a strategic shift in their approach, moving the focus from 'ease of doing business' to 'speed of doing business'. They highlighted significantly faster facilitation timelines, citing the example of the state's first proposed semiconductor manufacturing project, for which land was allotted in just 45 days after approval.
The Chhattisgarh Industrial Development Policy 2024–30 offers a clear and attractive incentive framework. A key feature is a 30% capital subsidy that is linked to employment generation. This subsidy can be multiplied to between 1.1 and 1.5 times the base rate for projects that commit to hiring a larger workforce. Furthermore, projects involving an investment of at least ₹1,000 crore or those generating 1,000 or more jobs are eligible for customised incentive packages tailored to their needs.
Sectoral Deep Dive: Steel and Tourism Lead the Charge
The roadshow had a distinct sectoral focus, with specialty steel and tourism emerging as the dominant areas for investment proposals.
For the Steel Sector: Officials pitched Chhattisgarh's advantages, including easy access to raw materials, availability of skilled labour, reliable grid power, and robust connectivity to national freight corridors. The state is specifically seeking downstream and value-added steel investments, such as in alloy steel and fabricated products, rather than just primary steel capacity.
For the Tourism Sector: The state targeted investors interested in eco-tourism, adventure tourism, spiritual circuits, and premium hospitality. A major hook for investors is the granting of official 'industry' status to tourism under the new policy, making tourism projects eligible for the same industrial incentives. Additional benefits were highlighted for projects located in the Bastar and Surguja regions, along with a dedicated homestay policy, to attract long-term investment in these under-served destinations.
Broader Impact and The Road Ahead
The successful roadshow in Delhi is part of a larger national outreach campaign. Since the launch of its current industrial policy, Chhattisgarh has recorded massive investment intentions of approximately ₹7.83 lakh crore across diverse sectors including metals, engineering, electronics, food processing, IT/ITES, logistics, and healthcare.
The state administration's immediate focus, however, will be on conversion. The goal is to move these proposals from the memorandum of understanding stage to actual project implementation. This will be achieved through dedicated facilitation cells, clear approval timelines, and periodic reviews of large-ticket projects. Similar investor connect events are planned for other major business hubs in India in the coming months, as Chhattisgarh solidifies its position as a top investment destination.
