Once known as a stronghold of Naxalite activity, Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra is now witnessing a wave of positive transformation driven by education, infrastructure, and employment, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday.

The Minister made these remarks while addressing the ‘Karmayogi’ programme organised by the Kai Laxmanrao Mankar Smruti Sanstha in Mumbai. Reflecting on the district’s past, Gadkari recalled visiting Gadchiroli nearly three decades ago during a tense electoral campaign period. “Twenty-nine years ago, Gadchiroli was infamous for Naxal violence. The police had to surround me during my visit,” he said. “But today, there are 1,200 teachers and 30,000 students in the district.”