NAGPUR: With a historic 2km bus ride through Maoist heartland of Gadchiroli via Tadguda’s newly inaugurated bridge, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday launched a 120km bus service from Aheri to Wangeturi, declaring the reclamation of the ‘liberated zone’ from guerrilla control after over four decades.
The bus service, starting from the crossing point for interstate Maoist formations in Abujmarh, is expected to benefit 10,000 tribals from 20 villages in the region’s interior, which previously remained cut off for six months during the monsoon. Accompanied by Gadchiroli SP Neelotpal, Fadnavis rode the bus with 30-35 tribals, engaging with them about local issues and their demands.
Besides promoting local growth and infrastructure development, the new bridge and road facilitate the swift movement of forces between Aheri headquarters and Wangeturi. “There is now 4G connectivity near Tadguda, which was unimaginable in the past when Maoists burned down towers and intimidated engineers,” said a source. SP Neelotpal briefed the CM on the valiant efforts of C60 commandos and central forces to drive out Maoists from the region.
