JAIPUR: Approximately three months ago, residents of a substantial residential complex along Ajmer Road encountered a significant issue. Despite the efforts of the residents’ welfare association (RWA) to clean the complex’s sewerage tank, all attempts proved ineffective. As the complex fell outside the jurisdiction of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation, RWA members were unable to persuade the civic body to address the cleaning. Both the local panchayat and Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) informed them that they do not extend services to individual households.
In Jaipur’s suburban colonies and residential projects, residents persistently grapple with a lack of essential civic amenities. Urban planning experts caution that the proposed expansion of JDA’s jurisdiction under the Master Plan 2047 could exacerbate these issues. They point out that the expansion may lead to low-density growth in distant areas without adequate infrastructure to support it.
Concerns heightened following a Rajasthan High Court ruling on Wednesday that temporarily halted the proposed JDA expansion.
Experts note that even in regions already approved by JDA, limited habitation and poor service delivery have left many residents reliant on private arrangements for basic necessities like sewerage, roads, and sanitation.
“Currently, JDA has announced plans to double its jurisdiction to 6,500 sq km under the Master Plan 2047, slated for implementation in 2027. At this time, JDA governs only 2,940 sq km. Such an extensive expansion creating an additional 3,500 sq km of urbanizable land will likely lead to the development of colonies and projects in remote areas, further exacerbating the challenges faced by residents there,” stated a town planner.
Some planners observed that with a planned area of nearly 6,500 sq km, Jaipur’s expansion would be almost five times greater than that of Bengaluru, despite a projected population of just 80 lakh—less than half of Bengaluru’s. They argue this disparity reflects a trend of urban sprawl instead of sustainable and efficient growth. “Consequently, the resultant development is not only likely to be spread out but of inferior quality,” remarked another town planner.
Officials reported that the Rajasthan Township Policy 2024 pledges phased development based on eight criteria, including infrastructure availability and public transport viability. However, it adds that “guidelines for phased development will be issued separately.” Over a year has passed since the state cabinet approved this policy, yet no urban local body or development authority in Rajasthan has established the necessary committee or designated a phased development zone.
“JDA has expanded its jurisdiction to augment its land bank by converting agricultural land and increasing property values to benefit builders. Consequently, developments in these urbanizable areas are likely to remain underdeveloped due to a lack of basic infrastructure,” noted another town planner.
