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The Jaipur Smart City Limited (JSCL) has been given responsibility to develop six additional towns Mandawa, Khatushyamji, Alwar, Bhiwadi, Bharatpur and Bikaner under Rajasthan's Clean and Green Eco Cities plan. The decision comes even as many of JSCL's projects in Jaipur remain incomplete or poorly maintained, including smart roads, underground cabling, and multi-level parking. While officials say the agency's role is limited to project completion and handover, concerns persist over whether JSCL can manage new developments effectively without addressing unresolved issues in the state capital.
The Jaipur Smart City Limited (JSCL), established under the Central Smart City Mission, has now been assigned the task of developing six additional towns across Rajasthan. These towns Mandawa, Khatushyamji, Alwar, Bhiwadi, Bharatpur and Bikaner will be taken up as part of the state government's Clean and Green Eco Cities initiative aimed at improving civic infrastructure, urban mobility, and heritage conservation. Advertisement
JSCL had launched its Smart City projects in Jaipur nearly a decade ago with planned investments of around INR 1,000 crore, covering 133 individual projects. These included works such as rooftop solar installations, underground cabling in the Walled City, smart-road networks, multi-level parking, and heritage restoration of major gates and facades. While many of these were officially marked as completed, ground inspections have shown mixed progress.
For example, about INR 34 crore was spent on underground electric cabling in the Walled City, but overhead wires continue to remain visible in several markets including Johri Bazaar and Tripolia Bazaar. Similarly, a smart-road project worth nearly INR 50 crore in Kishanpole and Chandpole was planned with Wi-Fi connectivity, CCTV surveillance, parking sensors, and environmental monitoring systems. However, these features are either missing or not functioning, and traffic management issues persist. The multi-level parking near Ram Niwas Bagh, constructed at a cost of around INR 85 crore, is also under-utilised due to connectivity and maintenance challenges.
JSCL's Chief Executive Officer Nidhi Patel said that the agency's role is primarily to complete projects and hand them over to the respective government departments for maintenance. She also clarified that many of the pending or partially completed projects were undertaken before her tenure began.
In the meantime, the Rajasthan Tourism Department has proposed a new beautification initiative worth approximately INR 83 crore to restore eight historical gates and enhance major market stretches such as Chaura Rasta, Tripolia Bazaar and Moti Katla. The work is expected to begin by the end of this year, aiming to revive the old city's appearance and improve visitor experience.
Under the Clean and Green Eco Cities initiative, the state government has also approved financial allocations for the new towns: about INR 80 crore each for Bharatpur and Bikaner, around INR 60 crore for Alwar, nearly INR 50 crore for Bhiwadi, and approximately INR 30 crore each for Mandawa and Khatushyamji. These projects are expected to cover urban roads, waste-management systems, green spaces, and smart utilities.
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