Last Updated on March 30, 2021 by asoulwindow
About Naya Raipur or Atal Nagar
Atal Nagar, Naya Raipur, Nava Raipur or New Raipur was recently included in the top 10 liveable cities in India. Known for its technological advancements and environment-friendly modes of urban transport, Atal Nagar is fast emerging as one of the most well planned city of India and the most futuristic city of India. The Smart Cities of Chhattisgarh such as Raipur, Atal Nagar and Bilaspur are redefining Indian urban spaces.
Atal Nagar is a pride of not only Chattisgarh but all of India too. Atal Nagar, the administrative capital of Chattisgarh has avante garde infrastructure and bustling trade. An enhanced service delivery system is another feature of Atal Nagar. The Naya Raipur Chattisgarh master plan is unlike any other in India. The other planned cities I can think of are Pondicherry near Tamil Nadu in South India and Chandigarh near Punjab in North India. The last two are both union territories of India.
Is Atal Nagar capital of Chhattisgarh
No. The capital of Chattisgarh is Raipur. Atal Nagar is the extension to Raipur. Raipur is the capital of Chattisgarh while Naya Raipur or Atal Nagar is a newly developed city where administrative work happens such as secretariat and directorate. Atal Nagar is a very uncrowded city with very few thousand people (and growing) living in it. Naya Raipur population is very low at this moment. The capital of Chattisgarh is still Raipur.
Where is Naya Raipur or Atal Nagar
Atal Nagar or Nava Raipur is a city of Chattisgarh, which is a newly born 26th state of India. Chhattisgarh became a state of India on 1st November 2000 before which it was a part of Madhya Pradesh in Central India. It is no secret that the new smart city Atal Nagar or Nava Raipur is being developed not very far from the old Raipur city and the Raipur airport.
History of Naya Raipur or Atal Nagar
Chattisgarh was originally known as Dakshin-Kausal in ancient times. It also finds mention in Hindu epics such as Ramayan and Mahabharat.
Some historians claim that the history of Raipur can be traced back to 10th century. The popular belief is that Kalchuri rulers made it their capital. Later Bhosale rulers claimed this land and it was subsequently made commisionary by the British. As years progressed, the city continued to expand and today it has an area of 100 kilometer. Raipur is a melting pot of many cultures where you can see people speaking different languages and eating regional foods of many states.
Why Naya Raipur or Atal Nagar is a smart city
New Raipur is the talk of the town off late. Recently when one of the greatest Indian Prime Minister (and every-one’s favorite) Shri Atal Bihari Bajpayi passed away due to old age, New Raipur was rechristened as Atal Nagar. Atal Nagar is being planned as one of the first integrated cities of the world which means that it will be planned in a self sustainable way, with minimal external funding. The Integrated Command and Control Centre (CCC) serves the city of Atal Nagar well.
The mistakes done in expansion of previous cities such as Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata will be rectified in Atal Nagar via its state of the art infrastructure. Anyways, the big cities of India have all become overcrowded and short of resources off late. This does create a need of a well planned city as India leaps into a new era. While planning Atal Nagar, great emphasis is given on the social, institutional, economic and physical infrastructure. The city also boasts of Integrated Building Management System and Integrated Command & Control Centre.
Built as a sustainably Green and Functionally Integrated Capital city, Atal Nagar is great for entertainment, education, business and healthcare. There are many places to visit in Naya Raipur, Chattisgarh. Naya Raipur total area is 237 square kilometers.
Why is Naya Raipur famous?
Atal Nagar aka New Raipur is developed just 25 kilometers away from the old Raipur. Greenery and surprising cleanliness throughout this route delighted me as we wheeled away on mostly empty roads. It is claimed that Atal Nagar is a modern smart city of 21st century. Atal Nagar has an area of 237 square kilometer. It has been divided into 4 zones so that development can be carried out in an organized manner.
These days, the development work is being carried out in layer 1. It is also the administrative capital of Chattisgarh government. Government offices such as Sachivalaya (Secretariat), Naya Raipur Mantralaya etc are located here only. My jaws dropped at the level of cleanliness and the organization, which was a pleasant departure from an average Indian city.
I believe that Indian population can be managed if we build similar smart cities and distribute the population in a sustainable way. It was heartening to see that local culture was integrated harmoniously along-with other cultures and modernity. Atal Nagar is also one of the safest cities of India. What’s not to love? This is why Naya Raipur is famous.
Features of Naya Raipur or Atal nagar
Clean India
I am a massive fan of Swach India Abhiyan aka Clean India mission initiated by Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. It is an incredible and herculean exercise he has undertaken. No other Prime Minister before him had thought about cleaning and maintaining our cities, which is a pity because Indian cities otherwise are so beautiful and have so much to offer to an average Indian or International tourist.
Therefore, I was delighted to see that both Old Raipur and New Raipur are spic and span and ‘so green’. Be it the main road or the small nooks and crannies, each place was very clean and well maintained. I visited Raigarh district also to attend the 34th edition of Chakradhar Samaroh on invitation by Chattisgarh Tourism Board. Despite being a small town, Raigarh was astonishingly clean and green as well.
Education Infrastructure
Did you know that some of the premier educational institutes of India such as IIM, IIT, IIIT, AIIMS, HNLU, IIMT, ITM and HMI university exist in the region nurturing the bright minds of Chattisgarh and beyond. Thanks to the priorities of NRANVP, Atal Nagar will be home to one of the best school, colleges and institutes for higher education. The unique architecture of Tribal Training Institute is also interesting. I visited the same during my trip to Atal Nagar.
Transparent Government and Digital services
Let us see what makes Atal Nagar a smart city? Unlike other Indian cities where the Governments run without accountability, Atal Nagar stands out with its inclusive governance. Thanks to the Internet of Things-enabled (IoT-enabled) technology, Atal Nagar is planned as a well connected city where citizens can pay their bills, renew travel passes, file RTI application, apply for new water connection, pay income tax etc with just their cell phones. Citizens will also have access to information regarding water and sewage connection, land and rehabilitation and permission management system. Real time data on maintenance and facilities of Atal Nagar will be shared with the citizens, making it a transparent process.
Using application systems, it will be very easy, quick and convenient to avail the facility of automatically generated utility bills. Atal Nagar will be connected via optical fibres thereby enabling efficient utility services without wasting much time. Delayed services should be a thing of past in Atal Nagar.
The government also keeps the citizens updated with any developments and information that they might need. Information about all the new projects and initiatives run by the Government are communicated to the citizens of Nava Raipur Atal Nagar. Not only this, but the citizens can also share their complaints, grievances, suggestions and opinions via websites and mobile apps.
The Smart Governance of Atal Nagar combined with City Connectivity & IT Infra (Data Centre) and efficient Utility Management is a suitable model to follow for other cities.
Residential Area Nava Raipur
The residential area in Naya Raipur Chattisgarh or Atal Nagar is situated in peaceful locations around the city. Located away from the commercial and administrative blocks such as Naya Raipur Mantralaya, the residential area has all the amenities available. It is a good idea to invest in plot for sale in Naya Raipur city.
Smart City New Raipur
It was easy to guess that the cleanliness and greenery standards which Old and New Raipur follow are unprecedented. One of the newest smart cities of India, Atal Nagar is a part of India’s Smart City Plan. Till now 8000 crore rupees have already been spent on the development on Atal Nagar and 20,000 crore rupees has already been allocated for the work which is underway right now.
I would be excited to visit Atal Nagar again after few years to see how it developed. As per the plan, the work on Atal Nagar will complete in 2031 with an expected population of 5,60,000. The efficient construction of 40 sectors is currently on in first layer. Different areas have been allocated for residential, business and industrial zones. They are also being developed in this order. The Naya Raipur master plan is indeed impressive.
Who would have thought that while the other cities of the world are dreaming of Smart Cities where machines communicate with each other using internet, Atal Nagar in Chattisgarh is already doing it. The quality of life in Atal Nagar is indeed at par with most other cities of India, thanks to the Nava Raipur Atal Nagar Vikas Pradikaran or NRANVP.
Healthcare in Atal Nagar
Atal Nagar has some of the best health care facilities in India. Some of the best hospitals of Atal nagar include AIIMS, Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital, BALCO Medical Centre etc. The cheaper alternatives are available at the Government hospital in sector 25 and sector 34. Isn’t Naya Raipur smart city impressive? This is how the new Raipur presents a positive image of the development in Chhattisgarh.
Public Transport in New Raipur
As we traversed through the 4 and 6 lane roads (a network of 100 kilometers), we realized that it took us hardly few minutes to drive from one sector to another. It could have been a city in Australia! It is indeed the smartest city of India which has already set a benchmark for other cities. I hope new and better cities follow the example and we are able to make India pollution and dirt free, one step at a time.
India is known for some of the best public transport systems in the world. Much like many big and small Indian cities, Atal Nagar has frequently running and affordable modes of public transport. The facility of Rapid Bus Transit System and Public bike sharing is also made for the citizens of Nava Raipur. You can reach all the main places to visit in Naya Raipur via public transport.
Green city New Raipur
Atal Nagar is built as per the green norms making it an eco friendly, pedestrian and cycle friendly city in India. It is also a differently-abled friendly city. It is good to see often ignored eco friendly practices in the Naya Raipur master plan.
The best part is that 38.29 % of the entire area of Atal Nagar has been reserved as green zone. This includes the 500 meter wide green belt. I am sure other states of India are ‘Green With Envy’. While other cities still cut forests and ancient mountains to make space for new urban spaces, Atal Nagar has integrated the green spaces within the plan of city. In fact, in some areas of Atal nagar, motorized vehicles are not allowed. In fact, Atal Nagar has pedestrian pathways and 55 kms of Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) cycling track. Did you know about this?
The conscious efforts for afforestation in Atal Nagar is commendable indeed. The city, roads, lanes, markets and education buildings are designed keeping in mind the green spaces of Atal Nagar. No compromise will be made with greenery for commercial benefits. After all, clean air is one of the biggest currencies these days.
Safety in Atal Nagar
Is Naya Raipur safe? Well yes. Atal Nagar or Naya Raipur is one of the safest cities of India. Atal Nagar uses the efficient GIS mapping or geographic information system along with a whooping 128 CCTV camera at all the strategic locations at entry and exit points. What’s more? Atal Nagar also has impressive city surveillance systems in place which include around 42 number plate recognition cameras and 40 speed detection cameras. So Visit Naya Raipur city without a worry.
Thanks to the effective Command and Control Centre (CCC) at Atal Nagar, it helps in detecting the criminal activity in the city and ensure security, well being and safety of its citizens.
We have all grown up in India hearing of such facilities in foreign nations such as United States of America and Dubai etc. Seeing such systems in India is a reality now. Such enhanced safety and security measures taken by Atal Nagar are unprecedented in India. The Intelligent Transport Management is another cherry on the cake.
Rainwater Harvesting
Naya Raipur city is beyond your imagination. In order to make the world class smart city of Atal Nagar self sustainable, it is mandatory for all buildings to install the rainwater harvesting systems. We all know how cities like Johannesburg in Africa and Shimla in Himachal Pradesh in North India suffered lack of water which resulted in panic and lack of tourists. Atal Nagar has the answer to the water problems of the world.
The Indian population is expected to rise further creating an unprecedented pressure on natural resources. It thus becomes important to be prepared with such efficient systems in place. We are already observing the lack of resources in existing small and metro cities of India. 24×7 fully pressurized Water Supply System is a reality in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar.
In fact the Naya Raipur Development Authority takes care of 55 water reservoirs which is unheard of. Such effective rainwater harvesting measures will ensure 24 x 7 clean water supply and optimum use of natural resources in a self sustainable way. Such citizen services are the reason why Atal Nagar is a world class smart city! Naya Raipur master plan must be followed by all cities of India.
Zero Sewage Discharge System
Atal Nagar is also known for its exceptional and advanced water management and waste water recycling. The exceptional zero sewage discharge system of Atal Nagar is a reality which not many cities can boast of. Using the state of the art Zero Liquid Discharge System, it is ensured that the sewage water is separated from the waterways of Atal Nagar. In fact, you will be impressed to know that the sewage water is treated and recycled using Zero Liquid Discharge System. The dissolved solids, impurities and any waste are separated, thereby producing distilled water. Atal Nagar will have a total of 104 MLD Water Treatment Plan (WTP). Don’t we need such efficient water management systems in all the cities?
Clean Energy in New Raipur
Atal Nagar is a futuristic smart city which makes clean energy a priority. India is a tropical nation which receives good sunlight most part of the year. The government plans to make use of renewable energy resources such as solar and wind power as a major facilitator of clean energy. 24 x7 power supply in Atal Nagar is facilitated through an underground power supply network. Think of electrical charging stations, wind powered street lights, intelligent street light management system, solar panels, underground cable network.
Top places to visit in Naya Raipur Chattisgarh
Both Old Raipur and Atal Nagar have a lot going for it to keep you busy and regaled. I also visited the newly built Sri Satya Sai Temple in Atal Nagar. The architecture of the building was very unusual and strikingly different.
Let us have a look at some of the top things to do in and around Atal Nagar or Naya Raipur Chattisgarh.
Purkhauti Muktangan
I enjoyed exploring Purkhauti Muktangan with my travel blogger friends. It was interesting to see display of the art, culture and architecture of Chattisgarh at one place. Huge terracotta statues of tribal people from Bastar dotted the landscape of Purkhauti Muktangan.
If you want to learn about the tribal culture and lifestyle of Chattigarh, then you must pay a visit to Purkhauti Muktangan. Spread across 170 acres, it is one of the best tourist places of Atal Nagar. Located in sector 24, Purkhauti Muktangan is a unique park and al fresco art museum. This open air museum will acquaint you with the artifacts, food habits, costumes, habitat, culture, rituals and folk dances and music of the various tribes living in Chattisgarh. Do visit this cultural site in Chattisgarh. In Hindi it is called as Purkhauti Muktangan Sangrahalay Parisar.
Narayan Temple – The Purkhauti Muktangan also has a replica of the ancient Narayan Temple which is located in the Narayanpal village. It was built by Queen Gund Mahadevi for prosperity during the reign of her grandson Kanhardev. Queen Gund Mahadevi was the widow of the Chhindak Nagwanshi emperor Dharavarsh from the Chakrakot state. King Someshwar Dutt was her son. The Narayan Temple stands tall as a testimony of the royal patronage of the influence of Vaishnav Dharm of the bygone era.
Narayan Temple is a wonderful example of the art and architecture of ancient Chakrakot. As per the records found in the Garbha Griha or the sanctum sanctorum of the original Narayan Temple, its construction date can be traced back to 1111 C.E. The records also mention the ‘Vanshavali’ (genealogy) of the Chhindak Nag Vansh.
Metal Art – I also saw display of bell metal art of Chhattisgarh known as Dhokra Art. Practiced by the tribal people of Bastar in remote Chattisgarh, these dull gold figures are made with hollow casting or lost wax technique. It is also made in Raigarh district. Do visit this open art museum.
Ghotul – I also saw a very interesting hut known as Ghotul in Purkhauti Muktangan in the Aamcho Bastar section. Aamcho Bastar is a replica of model Bastar village.
Ghotuls are the Muria Youth House built by tribal people called as Muria. The Muria tribe mainly lives in Narayanpur and Kondagaon districts in the tribal area of Chattisgarh called Bastar. The Ghotul I saw had 2 rooms and a wide veranda. The roof was made up of clay tiles while the pillars are made up of wood.
Ghotuls is said to have been founded by the main deity of Muria tribe known as Linga Dev. Ghotuls are used mainly by young people from Muria tribe. It is here that the young population of Muria people learns about the Muria culture, social and economical norms. The youth also learn the Muria dance, music and songs in Ghotuls. This informal education helps the Muria youth gain traditional knowledge and prepare them for future.
The Ghotuls are also the places where the Muria artists nurture their skills on doing art works on wood, metal, stone, pot etc. The artistic creativity of Muria artists is handed over to them by older generation. This is how the knowledge of traditional arts and crafts is passed on to the next generation. The Muria tribe is known for their excellent wooden carvings. I did notice the richly decorated fascinating motifs made by Muriaa Artisans on the walls on Ghotul of Aamcho Bastar. Also noticeable are the head rest and Gedi dance stilts.
Much like out schools. It actually reminded me of Morungs I saw in Mon, Nagaland. The youth of Konyak Tribe received similar education in the residential Morungs. Who would have thought about this similarity between North East India and Chattisgarh, both as different as chalk and cheese.
Timings: Purkhauti Muktangan is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Ticket prices: INR 5 for adults. INR 2 for kids below 12 year old.
Tribal Museum
Here you can learn about the various indigenous tribes of Chattisgarh, most of which live in the remote Bastar region. Do also check out the Tribal caste research and Training Institute.
Immersive Dome Theatre
Operated with 5D technology, the Immersive Dome Cinema of Atal Nagar is one of its kinds. It is in fact the first 5D immersive dome of the Central India. Do visit this ‘Immersive Dome Theatre’ which was inaugurated by Shri Raman Singh, the chief minister of Chattisgarh. It is a pleasure to watch films in the reclining seats of the Immersive Dome Theatre. Made with German technology, the Immersive Dome Theatre boasts of 5 projectors. Immersive Dome Theatre is located in sector 20, North Central Park. make sure you visit here when traveling to Naya Raipur city.
Show Timings are:
Saturday and Sunday – 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m.
Other days – 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Botanical gardens
The Botanical Garden of Atal Nagar is home to many species of plants and trees. It is spread across 153 hectares. It is one of the best places to visit in Naya Raipur Chattisgarh. So when are you visiting the Naya Raipur smart city? Do visit this New Raipur garden.
Nandanvan Jungle Safari
I do not support any animal entertainment. I feel zoos are just slavery to animals. So I personally do not support zoos. Naya Raipur jungle safari is the largest man made safari of Asia is spread across 800 acres and is located in sector 39 of Atal Nagar.
Golf Course
Atal Nagar is home to an 18 holes golf course where the upwardly mobile can play and unwind. The vast green patch adds to the beauty of the smart city. The golf course of Atal Nagar is located in the sector 24 near Jhanjh lake. It’s a new feather in the cap of this fast growing smart city. The city also has Shahid Vir Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium with a seating capacity of 50,000.
Jhanjh lake
You can spend some quite time with your loved ones at this local lake. It is one of the best recreational spots in Atal Nagar. The existing water bodies have been beautifully integrated with Nava Raipur Atal Nagar.
Sendh Lake
If you love adventure sports, then you must head to Sendh Lake. Some of the adventure sports you can enjoy at Sendh lake are ATV rides, paddle boat, Burma Bridge, Solar boar, wall climbing, parasailing, ziplining, Still water rafting, kayaking etc. Sendh Lake is located in sector 4 of Atal Nagar. It is one of the top places to see in Naya Raipur or Atal Nagar. It is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Ekatm path
There is around 4 kms of cycling track in Ekatm path where locals come to enjoy cycling in peaceful environment. You can even enjoy skating in the 2 kilometers long skating track. However, you need to bring your own skate and cycle. Entry is free in this New Raipur garden. Located near the state secretariat, the Ekatm path is modeled after Rajpath in New Delhi. Do visit this beautiful central boulevard which also has a walkway and garden.
DD Chowk
You can see the statue of Shri Din Dayal Upadhyay at the Capitol square in Naya Raipur city. Now known as DD Chowk, it is located in sector 19 of Atal Nagar.
Central Park
The Naya Raipur Central Park of Atal Nagar is a great place for locals to relax and socialize. You can visit Central Park for local flavor and an idea of local lifestyle. People from all ages congregate here daily. People-watching is another advantage. It is the biggest park of Chattisgarh, so needless to say it is worth a visit here and enjoy nature’s abundance. Naya Raipur central park is located in the heart of the city. Do visit this activity oriented park in Naya Raipur smart city.
Laser and music fountain show
More than 400 people can enjoy the unique Laser and music fountain show. The biggest draw here is of course the spell binding water and light show. The fountain dancing to the tunes of live music will remind you of the similar fountain show of Dubai and Vrindavan garden near Mysuru in South India. People come here with friends and family for picnic. It is one of the best things to do in Atal Nagar or Naya Raipur Smart City.
How To Reach Atal Nagar
It is fairly easy to reach Naya Raipur smart city.
Air: Nava Raipur or Atal Nagar is just 8 kilometers away from Swami Vivekanand Airport
Railway: Nearest railway station from Atal Nagar is at Raipur. It is well connected to all the major cities of India.
Bus: You can take a bus from Raipur to Naya Raipur or Atal Nagar.
Road: You can book a private cab or taxi to arrive at Atal Nagar from Raipur.
Atal Nagar is 15 kilometers away from the center of Raipur city. (old city)
Best Time to visit Naya Raipur
Winter: From October to March, it is the best time to visit Naya Raipur. The winter climate is quite pleasant in Raipur as it is situated on a plain.
Summer: From April to June, it is very hot in Naya Raipur, so avoid these months.
Monsoon: July to September, it rains in Naya Raipur. The weather is pleasant but it is inconvenient.
Contact Details
Address of Paryavas Bhawan : Paryavas Bhawan, North Block, Sector 19 New Raipur Atal Nagar, 492002, Chattisgarh.
Telephone: 0771-2512500
Fax: 0771-2512400
Email :[email protected]
Helpdesk Email: iccc.nranvp.cg.gov.in
Helpdesk Contact number: 07712211501
Conclusion on Naya Raipur
Naya Raipur or Atal Nagar is one of the smartest cities of India. The well planned Naya Raipur master plan has unprecedented infrastructure and facilities. The many places to visit in Naya Raipur add to its charm. You must visit Naya Raipur smart city to see how a city is built from scratch. Located close to Raipur, the capital of Chattisgarh, Nava Raipur.
The view from my Soul Window stands out!
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