As Rajasthan accelerates its urban transformation under the vision of Viksit Rajasthan @2047, the state is pursuing a comprehensive agenda that balances infrastructure expansion with sustainability, digital governance, affordable housing, and heritage conservation. From GIS-based urban planning and large-scale investments in water and sanitation to technology-driven public service delivery and climate-resilient development, the Urban Development and Local Self Government Department is shaping the next phase of Rajasthan’s urban growth.
In this exclusive interaction with ETGovernment, Jhabar Singh Kharra, State Minister (Independent Charge), Urban Development Department and Local Self Government Department, Government of Rajasthan, outlines the government’s long-term vision for creating liveable, future-ready cities. He discusses key initiatives in urban infrastructure, affordable housing, green mobility, waste management, digital governance, and the roadmap for building inclusive and sustainable urban centres across the state.
Rajasthan is witnessing rapid urban expansion–what is your long-term vision for building cities that are both growth-oriented and liveable?
Our vision is a simple but ambitious one: Shift Rajasthan’s cities from basic infrastructure provision to genuine ease of living. With the state’s urban population projected to reach 2.20 crore by 2026, we aren’t simply adding capacity–we’re designing future-ready ecosystems built around economic vitality, environmental resilience, and digital transparency.
On liveability, ₹5,000 crore has been committed to urban drinking water, with three lakh new connections being rolled out under AMRUT 2.0. Our Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM) work-including Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants and mechanised cleaning operations are steadily pushing cities toward ODF++ and Water+ certification.
Over 100 services have been digitised through the Rajasthan SSO portal, cutting the need for physical visits by an estimated 40 per cent. GIS-based Master Plans oriented towards 2047 are already being developed for cities like Sikar and Dausa and will be developed for all ULBs. Across our urban areas, around 65 thousand new streetlights are being installed.
At the same time, we haven’t lost sight of what makes Rajasthan’s cities worth living in to begin with. An investment of ₹975 crore is dedicated to heritage tourism and the conservation of Shekhawati havelis- because development that erodes cultural identity isn’t really development at all.
How is the local self government ensuring that infrastructure development keeps pace with rising urban populations across Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur?
Our approach has fundamentally shifted from reactive to anticipatory planning. Jaipur’s population is expected to cross 45 lakh by 2026, and we’re building ahead of that curve, not scrambling to catch up once it arrives. Under the Viksit Rajasthan @2047 framework, GIS-based Green Land use perspective plans-driven by satellite imagery-are guiding how cities like Udaipur and Jodhpur expand. Water lines, power grids, and sewerage networks are being planned before settlements take hold, not retrofitted after the fact.
To address unplanned sprawl, the Rajasthan Land Pooling (Amendment) Rules, 2026 now enable structured township development with 20-25 per cent of land set aside for public amenities. This is backed by ₹12,050 crore under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Urban Development Scheme. Landowners become partners rather than displaced parties, receiving developed plots in return for contributing land-a model that’s already reducing litigation and speeding up delivery.
On sanitation and water infrastructure, AMRUT 2.0 and the ADB-supported RUIDP Phase III-projects together worth upwards of ₹3,900 crore-are expanding underground sewerage networks, upgrading Sewage Treatment Plants, and reducing untreated discharge that would otherwise threaten fragile ecosystems like Udaipur’s lakes and Jodhpur’s heritage zones.
Cleanliness has been institutionalised across Urban Local Bodies through door-to-door waste collection, four-stream source segregation, and mechanised sweeping. The results are visible in Rajasthan’s consistent Swachh Survekshan performance. Decentralised composting and Material Recovery Facilities are converting waste into compost for parks and peri-urban farms- out a genuine circular economy loop, not just a slogan.
Affordable housing remains a key priority- what innovative models or partnerships is the government exploring to make housing accessible for all sections of society?
Our position is clear: Affordable housing must deliver quality, location, and dignity-not merely a low-cost unit tucked away at the city’s edge. We’ve repositioned Urban Local Bodies from passive approvers to active delivery partners.Single-window clearance systems are cutting approval timelines and reducing the cost overruns that ultimately fall on homebuyers. Updated land records and building byelaw databases are shrinking litigation and accelerating on-ground execution.
The Rajasthan Land Pooling (Amendment) Rules, 2026-piloted along Tonk Road, Jaipur-allow landowners to receive 47 per cent of developed land in exchange for contributing to planned township development. No displacement, no prolonged court battles, and significantly faster delivery.
Under PM Awas Yojana Urban 2.0, targeting one crore urban families with incomes up to ₹9 lakh, ULBs are managing the entire delivery chain-beneficiary identification, verification, developer coordination, and last-mile services. A ₹1.5 lakh per unit subsidy, combined with government land support, is enabling townships where civic services-water, sanitation, roads, lighting—are built in from day one.
ULBs are also acting as incentive-granting authorities. Higher Floor Area Ratios, relaxed byelaws, and fast-track approvals are offered to private developers who commit to reserving 25-30 per cent of housing for EWS and LIG groups. This makes the market a structural partner in inclusion, rather than an obstacle to it.
Sustainability is becoming central to urban planning—what steps are being taken to integrate green mobility, waste management, and climate resilience into Rajasthan’s urban future?
Sustainability is no longer something we put on at the end of a project-it’s embedded in the planning from the start. Rajasthan became the first state in India to present a dedicated Green Budget, with the 2025-26 edition allocating ₹27,854 crore (11.34 per cent of scheme expenditure) to climate-aligned initiatives. The 2026-27 Green Budget builds on that foundation, continuing the state’s commitment to long-term environmental resilience.
On green mobility, the Rajasthan Electric Vehicle Policy is targeting 15% EV adoption in new registrations, supported by charging infrastructure rollouts across Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur, alongside an expansion of electric bus fleets in urban corridors.
For waste management, we’re moving steadily toward a zero-waste framework aligned with Solid Waste Management Rules. Our 100 per cent mechanised FSSM system protects groundwater and ensures safe sanitation.
On climate resilience, Oxyzones are being developed across 16 districts and ‘Namo Parks’ are being established as urban carbon sinks. Under Mukhya Mantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan 2.0, ₹2,500 crore is going into water harvesting structures across approximately 5,000 villages—ensuring our cities and surrounding regions can weather both heat stress and water scarcity.
Moreover, I recently visited Denmark to study sustainable urban management which focused on adopting eco-friendly city planning, integrated water resource management.
Digital governance is transforming public service delivery-how is your department leveraging technology to improve transparency, efficiency, and citizen engagement?
Digital governance sits at the core of our ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’ vision. We’re not only running pilots but we’re scaling systems that actually reach citizens.Over 100 urban and civic services are now integrated through the Rajasthan SSO portal, cutting approval timelines by close to 50 per cent and eliminating the cycle of repeated office visits. The Jan Soochna Portal complements this with real-time data on more than 115 schemes, making entitlements transparent, trackable, and auditable for any citizen.
The department has fully adopted eFile across ULBs and the Directorate. Over 2.5 lakh files have been processed digitally, bringing average disposal time down from 21 days to under seven, with complete audit trails. Urban property mutations are now fully digital, handled through integration with the Urban Land Records System and eDharti.
Through the Rajasthan LSG Portal and eMitra integration, ULBs now deliver Building Plan Approvals, Trade Licences, Water and Sewerage Connections, Property Tax, and birth and death certificates digitally-with turnaround times ranging from same-day to three days.For the large number of citizens without reliable internet access, 85,000 eMitra kiosks remain the backbone of on-ground service delivery-handling certificates, bill payments, DBT-linked services, and grievance registration across every corner of the state.
Looking ahead, what legacy would you like to leave behind in Rajasthan’s urban transformation journey over the next five years?
Five years from now, I want the legacy to be measured in lives improved rather than concrete poured. The goal isn’t a modernised Rajasthan-it’s a self-reliant, sustainable, and genuinely inclusive one.The first pillar of that legacy is dignified urbanism. Slums should become history, not a feature of our cities, as families move into pucca homes with legal titles, round-the-clock water supply, and functional sanitation through scaled affordable housing and land pooling schemes.
The second is leading the circular economy. Achieving 100 per cent scientific waste processing across all 180-plus ULBs-with operational FSTPs and waste-to-energy plants at scale-would protect groundwater and rivers for the next generation.
The third is smart and sensitive governance: a public administration where citizens rarely need to visit an office. AI-assisted, faceless services backed by robust digital infrastructure-including our Tier-4 Data Centre-should make that a practical reality.
And finally, I want to see heritage and high technology coexist. Cities like Jaipur and Jodhpur can modernise without losing what makes them irreplaceable. That balance is achievable, and getting it right would be something worth building a legacy on.
