Fadnavis becomes first CM to take bus ride through Maoist bastion

Nagpur: It was a historic 2km bus ride, over Tadguda's newly inaugurated bridge, and cutting through the Maoist heartland. It allowed chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to finally declare the govt had reclaimed the ‘liberated zone' from guerilla rule after over four decades. The bus service will benefit 10,000 tribals of 20 villages in the interiors, which used to remain cut off for six months in the monsoon.

Fadnavis on Wednesday inaugurated the 120km bus service from Aheri to Wangeturi, at the foot of Maoist headquarters Abujmarh on the Chhattisgarh border, which used to be the crossing point for interstate Maoist formations. The bus service has become possible due to two strategic police posts opened at Gardewara and Wangeturi.

Apart from boosting local growth and infrastructure, the bridge and the road also allow swift movement of forces from Aheri headquarters (Pranhita headquarters) to Wangeturi.

On Wednesday, when the nation was celebrating the beginning of 2025, the CM's bus ride ushered a new dawn of Maoist-free times in the tribal-dominated district. Accompanied by SP Gadchiroli Neelotpal, Fadnavis took the bus ride along with 30-35 tribals, interacting with them about their local issues and demands.

As the bus snaked through the vast forested stretches of south Gadchiroli, Fadnavis keenly heard the villagers speak their hearts out, as he occasionally looked out to enjoy the verdant nature.

The villagers expressed gratitude for ensuring the Tadguda bridge was built on the Gatta-Gardewada-Wangeturi axis, which used to be cut off in the monsoon for six months. They also expressed happiness at getting mobile connectivity. "There is 4G connectivity now near Tadguda, which was unthinkable in the past as Maoists would burn down towers and scare away the engineers," said a source, who was in the bus with the CM.

Neelotpal explained to the chief minister the heroic efforts of C60 commandos and the central forces, which ensured Maoist leadership and cadres were flushed out of the region, to allow development to take place after almost four decades.

Earlier, MSRTC ran a service from Aheri to Gatta, which was extended to Gardewara in August last year and now to Wangeturi.