If you’ve been to Jaipur lately, you know that the city is changing everyday for good. The UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network (UCCN), with the aim of strengthening cooperation among cities that have recognized creativity as a strategic factor of sustainable development as regards economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects, added Jaipur along with Varanasi to the list of CCN cities. The Government of Rajasthan nominated the Jaipur City under the Creative Cities Network for its art & craft. 36 varieties of crafts were identified including the ones related to Sculpture, Pottery Textiles and Jewellery making. Right from King Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur in 18th Century to his successors, the city has been nurtured as a center of artistic excellence. It was also highlighted how 30 per cent of the city’s economy is sustained by small-scale craft industries. But that’s just one aspect of the story.
Chief Minister of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that Jaipur becomes an ultra-modern, ecologically balanced smart city. Very recently, JDA in partnership with CISCO has announced the development of an Innovation Lab for Smart City Solutions that will invite startups and other companies to come and collaborate for locally relevant solutions. This Innovation lab will be first of its kind in India. The platform shall be open to considering everything that can make citizens lives simpler- from a waste management solution to a bill payment one. Rajasthan already has a platform called Startup Oasis that was conceptualized and set up by Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation Limited (RIICO) in association with IIM Ahmedabad. The city that attracts over 40 million tourists every year is also one of the few cities that have started tech initiatives as a part of moving towards being a smart city. As part of the digital blueprint of the state of Rajasthan, in its first phase, the pink city has created digital infrastructure to offer citizens amenities including intelligent kiosks, wireless broadband, safety and security services, traffic management and environmental updates. It is primarily collaborating with Cisco for its smart city solutions like surveillance, smart kiosks, analytics, networking, smart lights etc. Jaipur plans to deploy an intelligent bus system, which includes putting GPS, cameras and intelligent systems on state buses. CM Raje had recently outlined her vision of a digital future for Rajasthan by leveraging Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to enable good governance, a better quality of life and increased employment opportunities.
Chief minister Vasundhara Raje also inaugurated proposed and constructed infrastructure projects worth Rs 865 crore on Saturday. The long pending Durgapura elevated road, a project stalled by the Gehlot government, along with the long pending Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) corridor was made open for the public after inauguration. CM Raje also inaugurated the Basic Services for the Poor (BSUP project) under which 5,816 houses will now be homes to the needy. A Tourist Information Centre with the aim of facilitating the large pools of tourists visiting the city along with a Public Park known as the Silvan Park, Arjun Complex and Butterfly Valley located at the Smriti Van were also inaugurated. It has been Raje’s efforts towards improving the quality of life for the citizens of the State, that a number of gardens, attractions and visibly pleasing art hoardings now adorn the city of Jaipur. The Arjun Complex with a beautiful Arjun Statue has been made with a vision of inspiring the young sportspersons training at the SMS stadium. India shall only get online when it’s cities get online. Jaipur has also become one of the very few cities that have connected tourists and citizens even virtually. Enabling of Wi-Fi services in various parts of Jaipur shall prove to be a significant step towards realizing PM Narendra Modi’s dream of a digital India. CM Vasundhara Raje had recently said at the Resurgent Rajasthan Partnership Summit – ‘When an investor enters a City, he or she must see the best of it’. It is her zeal towards making Rajasthan the next investment hub of the country that has resulted into a beautiful, cleaner and greener Jaipur. As residents of this city say, we hope the good work keeps on and Jaipur truly becomes an Eco-Smart City.
