Chhattisgarh

Last Updated: November 2009


Chhattisgarh, which covers a geographical area of 135,000 sq km, is India's newest state and one of the country‘s fastest-growing states. Fourty per cent of the state is under forest area.

Chhattisgarh is the richest state in terms of mineral wealth, with 28 varieties of major minerals, including diamonds. It is the only state in India to have tin ore reserves. Over one-fifth of iron ore in the country is mined here and one of the best quality iron ore deposits in the world is found in the Bailadila mines in the south of the state, from where it is exported to Japan and other countries. The mineral-rich state attracted investment proposals worth US$ 4.89 billion in October 2007. Construction and services in the tertiary sector registered a growth of more than 30 per cent year-on-year in 2008–09. The state is the iron and steel hub of the country. The Bhilai Steel Plant of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) produces more than 4 million tonnes of iron and steel per annum.

The significance of mining and industrial activity in the state has propelled the setting up of the South East Central Railways(1998), headquartered at Bilaspur —it generates the highest revenues for Indian Railways. Korba in Chhattisgarh is termed the Power Capital of India with National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)‘s Super Thermal Power Plant working at 90 per cent Plant Load Factor (PLF). The state has huge coal reserves at 84 per cent of India‘s coal and holds the major share of coal deposits in India, which has led to its 'power hub' status.

State Presentation (September 2009)

Click here to download