Tiwari said that despite the grand promises of the so-called “Triple Engine Government,” the situation on the ground remains dismal. He alleged that municipal councillors have been requesting zone officers for small projects worth ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh, but for the past six months not a single rupee from the maintenance fund has reached the zones, bringing development to a complete standstill.
According to him, the RMC was supposed to receive ₹100 crore under the infrastructure budget, but during Diwali only ₹7 crore was released leaving many pending works unpaid. The share from land-building registry (₹80 crore) and bar licence fees (₹15 crore) also remain unpaid. Tiwari said that none of the funds earmarked for various heads have come through for months, resulting in organizational breakdown within the municipal administration.
Tiwari accused both the municipal administration and the state government of being “indifferent,” while residents suffer the consequences. He said even minor tasks like building drains and small bridges have stopped. “This is the Triple Engine model — where progress has stalled and employees are struggling to get their salaries,” he said.
He added that the demands had been taken to the state’s Urban Administration Minister, who had previously assured an allocation of ₹50 lakh per ward. Although the proposal was submitted, approval has not arrived yet. Tiwari urged the government to release the required funds immediately and restart pending development work across the city.
The fast continued from noon to 5 p.m., during which several senior leaders including former Raipur city Congress president Girish Dubey, state Congress secretary Shiv Singh Thakur, and councillors Jayshri Nayak, Sheikh Mushir and Babbi Sonkar along with a large number of party workers, joined the protest.
