Raipur, August 9, 2025/ The Chhattisgarh government is building 34 new Nalanda complexes to give wings to the dreams of the youth pursuing higher education and preparing for competitive examinations. These Nalanda complexes are being built not only in big cities like Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Bhilai, Raigarh, but also in remote forest areas like Sukma, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Surajpur, Baikunthpur, Chirmiri, Kunkuri, Jashpur, Balrampur, and Pendra. The Department of Urban Administration and Development has sanctioned funds for 33 new Nalanda complexes in the last two years. At the same time, the work of a 700-seater central library is in progress in Raigarh with CSR. A contract of Rs 42 crore 56 lakh has been signed between Raigarh Municipal Corporation and NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation) for this. This will be the largest Nalanda complex in the state.
These central libraries-cum-reading zones will provide a good environment for the youth of the state to prepare for various competitive examinations. Good books will also be available for higher education and competitive examinations. These libraries will prove to be very helpful and important in the career building of the youth of every section of the state. Youth will get the facility of online and offline studies in these well-equipped, state-of-the-art libraries. The Department of Urban Administration has sanctioned Rs 237 crore 57 lakh 95 thousand for 33 Nalanda complexes in the last two years. The department has approved Rs 125 crore 88 lakh for 18 Nalanda complexes in 17 urban bodies in the current financial year 2025-26. At the same time, Rs 111 crore 70 lakh has been sanctioned for 15 Nalanda complexes in different cities in the last financial year 2024-25. The tender process has been completed for 11 of these Nalanda complexes and work orders have also been issued to the concerned construction agencies. These will start taking shape soon.
*Urban Administration Department releases 19.15 crore for 11 Nalanda complexes*
After the approval of the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Urban Administration and Development, Mr. Arun Sao, the department has released a total of Rs 19 crore 14 lakh 87 thousand in the form of the first installment for the construction of Nalanda complexes in 11 urban bodies this month. The department has released the first installment of Rs 2 crore 85 lakh 57 thousand each to Durg, Rajnandgaon and Ambikapur Municipal Corporations. At the same time, Rs 1 crore 10 lakh 37 thousand each has been released as the first installment to Balodabazar, Balod, Bemetara, Kawardha, Kanker and Janjgir Municipalities and Kunkuri Nagar Panchayat. The first installment of Rs 2 crore 85 lakh 57 thousand has been released to Jashpur Municipality for the construction of Nalanda complex.
*500-seater and 250-seater libraries will be built in ten cities and 22 cities respectively*
To provide a conducive environment for competitive examinations and higher education to the youth of the state, 500-seater libraries will be built in ten urban bodies and 250-seater libraries in 22 cities. 500-500 seater Nalanda complexes will be constructed in Durg, Rajnandgaon, Ambikapur, Jagdalpur, Bilaspur and Bhilai Municipal Corporations and Jashpur, Lormi and Gariaband Municipalities. At the same time, 250-250 seater central library-cum-reading zones will be built in Dhamtari and Chirmiri Municipal Corporations, Kawardha, Janjgir-Naila, Balod, Balodabazar, Bemetara, Kanker, Narayanpur, Balrampur, Mungeli, Khairagarh, Sakti, Pendra, Sarangarh, Surajpur, Baikunthpur, Dantewada and Sukma Municipalities and Kunkuri, Basna and Ambahgarh-Chowki Nagar Panchayats.
*Three libraries are currently operating in Raipur, two more will be built*
Currently, three central library-cum-reading zones are operating in the capital Raipur. These include a thousand-seater Nalanda complex-cum-oxy reading zone, an 800-seater Takshashila Central Library-cum-smart reading zone and a 500-seater central library. In the last five years, 400 youths who studied in the Nalanda complex have not only got good jobs by being selected in various competitive examinations, but have also got admission in prestigious higher educational institutions. Work on a thousand-seater and a 500-seater new library will start soon in Raipur. The Department of Urban Administration has sanctioned Rs 22 crore 80 lakh and Rs 11 crore 28 lakh respectively for them.
*Nalanda complex is not just a building, it is the foundation of the bright future of the youth – Shri Vishnu Dev Sai*
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai, while mentioning the success of the Nalanda complex in Raipur, said that the Chhattisgarh government is working to give wings to the dreams of the youth. We are constructing Nalanda complexes in the cities of different areas so that the youth of every region of Chhattisgarh get the opportunity to get quality higher education and prepare for competitive examinations. State-of-the-art central library-cum-reading zones are being opened from Sukma to Surajpur and from Raigarh to Kawardha – in every corner. These Nalanda complexes are not just buildings, they are the foundation of the bright future of the youth.
*Chhattisgarh government is committed to providing all facilities to realize the dreams of the youth – Shri Arun Sao*
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Arun Sao, while talking about the expansion of Nalanda complexes across the state, said that the government is committed to providing all facilities to realize the dreams of the youth. These well-equipped libraries will provide a conducive environment for studies to the students pursuing higher education and preparing for competitive examinations, along with excellent study material. Nalanda complex will play a major role in taking the hard work of the youth of the state to their desired destination. Here, they will be able to move forward in the direction of achieving their goals with full focus, dedication and devotion.