PM Narendra Modi’s first trip to Chhattisgarh's Maoist zone on May 9

NEW DELHI: Sending out a strong message on the internal security front, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Dantewada in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, the heart of the red corridor, in what will be the PM's first visit to a Naxalite-hit area on May 9.

Dantewada has not had a date with a prime minister for many years and Modi's visit comes at a time when the Maoists are on their annual offensive to make their presence felt, just before the monsoon arrives and the forests get out of bounds. The last time Modi visited Bastar was during his election campaign as the PM candidate and it was preceded by a big attack by the Maoists.

Keeping to his vow of taming the "Maoist menace" through development, the PM will inaugurate two mega projects. Along with chief minister Raman Singh, Modi will inaugurate work on the 140km Raoghat-Jagdalpur railway line to improve connectivity and sign an MoU for an ultra mega steel plant in Dilimili village, to be set up jointly by Steel Authority of India Ltd and National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC).

Modi will address a public rally in Dantewada and visit Javanda in the district, where the state government has created an educational hub with residential schools and colleges for 5,000 students. The hub is meant for children and youth whose studies have been disrupted by Maoist attacks on their villages. Modi will visit a livelihood college that trains students for employment. He will take a look at the skill development model that he is keen to promote in the rest of the country.

Modi will also address a public rally in Naya Raipur, before leaving for Kolkata. Modi will launch a low cost housing project and a new wing of a private hospital in the new city adjacent to Raipur.