Smelling a chance

Less than three years down the line though, a sea-change in the mindset is already evident. ‘‘Now local residents compare themselves to people in Bhopal, Lucknow, Patna, even Mumbai and Delhi,’’ says S R Gupta, doctor and philanthropist. ‘‘They are expecting more from the city. It’s a good sign.’’

The truth about Raipur, the not-so-new capital of Chhattisgarh, lies somewhere between these two views. Long known only for its business acumen, Raipur is trying hard to shake off its dust-bowl associations of chaotic traffic, poor civic infrastructure and non-existent social life. Helping and impeding it in the process are the one lakh people — top government officials, bureaucrats, engineers, company executives — who moved in to Raipur after the capital suffix.

To accommodate and reflect the influx, dozens of residential colonies have come up, the newest four-wheelers and two-wheelers crowd the streets, shopping centres and market complexes do brisk business. The city’s sole Raipur Medical College now has superior company in the Escorts Command Hospital.

But perhaps the most dramatic difference capital-status has wrought is in the roads. The Raipur Municipal Corporation has spent Rs 24 crore in widening, tarring, rebuilding and beautifying the arterial roads. To keep them looking as good as new, cleaners take to the streets between 11 pm and 4 am, and cart away 200 tonnes of garbage before the city wakes up.

‘‘Raipur will be known yet for its roads, gardens and dust-free air,’’ promises Chhattisgarh CM Ajit Jogi. ‘‘Give us two years.’’

But old-timers doubt his confidence. ‘‘Everything is cosmetic and money-driven. The roads have improved, but not the traffic or the water supply. Way back in the 1960s, Raipur had functional traffic lights at all chowks and a reliable bus service. Now there is neither a bus service nor traffic lights,’’ says social activist and long-time resident Lalit Surjan.

True, but the city’s trying. Memories of 2001 — when the drinking water supply suddenly collapsed — still fresh in their minds, the civic body has spent Rs 17 crore to augment the daily supply of 2.5 lakh gallons by 1.3 lakh gallons, says mayor Tarun Chatterjee. ‘‘This year we didn’t even need to engage tankers,’’ he says proudly.

Then there’s the 7,000-hectare capital township project. To come up 26 km away from Raipur in four phases, ‘‘it will not be just a physical extension of space but a symbol of Chhattisgarhi pride,’’ says Jogi.