Concretisation of road in naxalism-affected Bastar

Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, Apr 15 (UNI) Amidst naxal threats, cement-concretisation of the Bijapur-Gangalur road -- which was closed for the past five years -- has begun in Chhattisgarh's heavily-landmined Bastar region.

A committee, headed by District Collector K R Pisda, was constituted for the purpose and the rebels formed a parallel committee to thwart the concretisation for which modern machines -- from both India and abroad -- are being used under heavy security.

The insurgents torched a truck. Chief Minister Raman Singh recently performed the bhoomi pujan to initiate the concretisation.

''The Rs 7-crore venture has been funded by the National Mineral Development Corporation. Several similar attempts could not succeed earlier. A stretch of 500 m will be concretised daily,'' said Mr Pisda. A Rs 24-lakh bridge was also being constructed.

Bijapur's Superintendent of Police Ratan Lal Dangi said that central security forces' personnel were stationed on either side of the road that was being constantly patrolled by police.

''The road is heavily-mined but a bomb disposal squad has been deployed,'' the officer added.

UNI