Sonmoni Borah Takes Charge as Principal Secretary, Urban Administration and Development

Senior IAS officer Sonmoni Borah signs official documents after assuming charge as Principal Secretary of Chhattisgarh’s Urban Administration and Development Department in Raipur on Wednesday, August 19, 2026-Photo Credit:primelookindia.com via CG/DPR

Senior IAS officer asks officials to prioritise programmes directly connected with citizens and schemes providing essential urban services

IN Short

• The 1999-batch IAS officer assumes charge following the state government’s August 18 posting order
• Borah previously handled Tribal Development, Scheduled Caste Development, and Backward Classes and Minorities Development
• He also held additional charge of the Science and Technology Department
• His earlier urban assignments included leadership roles in Raipur Municipal Corporation, RDA and BDA
• Officials briefed the new Principal Secretary on departmental schemes, programmes and ongoing projects
• Borah calls for greater priority to essential civic amenities and citizen-oriented programmes

Raipur : Senior Indian Administrative Service officer Sonmoni Borah assumed charge as Principal Secretary of Chhattisgarh’s Urban Administration and Development Department in Raipur on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

Borah, a 1999-batch IAS officer, was posted to the department through an order issued by the state government’s General Administration Department on August 18.

Sonmoni Borah at his office after taking charge as Principal Secretary of the Urban Administration and Development Department in Raipur on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Borah has asked officials to prioritise citizen-oriented programmes and essential urban services-Photo Credit:ptimrlookindia.com via CG/DPR

After taking charge, he held discussions with senior departmental officials and reviewed the schemes, programmes and ongoing activities being implemented through urban local bodies across Chhattisgarh.

Borah asked officials to give priority to programmes directly connected with citizens, particularly schemes intended to provide essential civic services in urban areas.

Before his latest posting, Borah was serving as Principal Secretary of the Tribal Development Department, Scheduled Caste Development Department, and Backward Classes and Minorities Development Department. He was also holding additional charge of the Science and Technology Department.

His appointment brings an experienced urban administrator back to a sector in which he has previously held several important responsibilities.

Borah played a significant role in the development of Raipur as Chhattisgarh’s capital following the formation of the state. His earlier assignments included serving in leadership positions in the Raipur Municipal Corporation, Raipur Development Authority and Bilaspur Development Authority.

His administrative career has also included responsibilities associated with the development of Raipur and Bilaspur, as well as the districts of Kawardha, Janjgir-Champa and Mungeli.

Urban Experience Expected to Strengthen Civic Administration

During his previous urban assignments, Borah was associated with the Safai Mitra initiative and projects for the conservation, development and restoration of Budha Talab and other water bodies in Raipur.

Work was also initiated to create a designated site for idol immersion at Mahadev Ghat, helping protect the river and improve arrangements during major festivals.

Urban schools underwent renovation during his tenure, while Raipur Municipal Corporation introduced online registration of births and deaths. The digital initiative reduced dependence on manual procedures and made access to these essential civic records more convenient for citizens.

Accounting operations in the municipal corporation were also shifted from manual methods to software-based systems. The transition was intended to improve financial record-keeping, transparency and administrative efficiency.

Borah’s earlier reforms included placing greater emphasis on preventive operation and maintenance. The approach sought to identify and address infrastructure problems before they developed into larger failures requiring costly repairs.

The Urban Administration and Development Department is responsible for coordinating the functioning of urban local bodies and implementing schemes related to water supply, sanitation, roads, drainage, housing, street lighting and other essential civic services.

Senior departmental officials welcome Principal Secretary Sonmoni Borah after he assumes charge of the Urban Administration and Development Department in Raipur on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. The officials subsequently briefed him on the department’s schemes, programmes and ongoing projects-Photo Credit:primelookindia.com via CG/DPR

The department also plays a central role in managing Chhattisgarh’s continuing urban expansion. Rapid growth in Raipur, Bilaspur and other cities has increased pressure on water resources, public transport, waste management, housing and municipal infrastructure.

Borah’s experience in municipal administration is expected to support better coordination between the state government, municipal corporations, councils and nagar panchayats. The effectiveness of his tenure will ultimately depend upon whether departmental schemes produce visible improvements in citizens’ everyday experience of urban services.

Urban Administration and Development Director Remigius Ekka, State Urban Development Agency Chief Executive Officer Sumit Agrawal, Deputy Secretary Bhagwat Jaiswal, Additional Director Pulak Bhattacharya, Chief Engineer Rajesh Sharma, Joint Director Mithilesh Awasthi, Deputy Director Arun Sahu, SUDA Deputy Chief Executive Officer Sunil Agrahari, Superintending Engineer Ramesh Singh and other officials welcomed Borah and briefed him on departmental activities.