8/3/2019 Infrastructure Growth of Rajasthan

1/3

Infrastructure Growth of Rajasthan

Rajasthan symbolizes royalty, gallantry, resplendence, festivals and who can forget the wide,barren yet the striking Thar Desert. The name of this state literally means `the land of the rajas

(kings).` Rajasthan presents everything that is Indian in essence. Its culture, festivals, customsand even cuisine are deeply associated with the ancient Indian culture. Its diverse landscapeattracts tourists from all over the world. The state ensures that the travelers do not face any kindof trouble while touring the state. These are some of the reasons why Rajasthan is a populartourist destination in India.

The topography of Rajasthan is dominated by the Aravali range of hills.Some parts of the state, especially the west and the north-west of Aravali hills is either desert orsemi-desert. Human settlement in this part of the state is the scattered. Agriculture is the primaryand the largest contributor to the economy of the state.

Government of Rajasthan with infrastructure

The government has committed to perform a financial responsibility and budget managementlegislation, to improve government's financial position. This will permit it to make largerinvestment in developing physical infrastructure in the state. Project Development Corporation Ltd(PDCOR) is a partnership between Government of Rajasthan. The permission of PDCOR is tomake easy private sector investment in infrastructure related activities in Rajasthan. PDCORprovides institutional support to the government in order to successfully structure and implementinfrastructure projects on a public-private partnership basis. It also advises the government forpolicy and institutional changes.

Rajasthan Urban Infrastructure Development Project (RUIDP) aims at improving sustainableinfrastructure facilities in six major cities of Rajasthan including Jaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Ajmer,Kota and Udaipur. The Project also aims at enhancing the capacities of urban local bodies(ULBs) and making awareness among community for effective participation. The project

commenced in July 2001 and BME consultants M/s Dalal Mott Mac Donald, New Delhi preparedCity Baseline reports in May, 2005 and consultant M/s LEA Associates South Asia Pvt. Ltd., NewDelhi prepared the Final City BME reports based on City Base line reports.

Roads infrastructure in Rajasthan

Rajasthan has a total road length of 180,000 km. Out of these, 5,655 km are nationalhighways, 11,615 km are state highways, and 7,340 km are major district roads.

Through different schemes like the Missing Link project and Central Road Fund, newroads are constructed to link all villages in the state.

Under the state's Mega Highways Project, over 1000 Km. of road stretches joiningnational highways are being upgraded into expressways, providing better and quickerconnectivity.

Road Infrastructure Development Company of Rajasthan Ltd (RIDCOR) is an ambitiousinitiative of Government of Rajasthan for improving the state's road infrastructure.RIDCOR is a public limited company constituted as a 50:50 joint initiative of Governmentof Rajasthan and Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS).

8/3/2019 Infrastructure Growth of Rajasthan

2/3

Aviation

Rajasthans capital Jaipur has a completely International airport with flights to Dubai,Bangkok, and Singapore directly.

Besides Jaipur, Rajasthans domestic airports are located at Jodhpur and Udaipur, with

regular flights from New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore, andAhmedabad.

Air cargo complex at Jaipur, inland container depots at Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bhilwara, andBhiwadi provide conductive environment for trade within and outside India.

Power

Total installed capacity in Rajasthan as of March 2010 is 7,835 MW. Per capital consumption of electricity in Rajasthan is 572.20 kWh, which is lower than the

national average of 631.41 kWh for the year 2005-06. The state plans to add another 5180 MW to the existing capacity by 2014. Three new

power units have recently been commissioned (a 125 MW lignite-based thermal power

plant and two units of 110 MW gas-based thermal power plants). Six more units are under construction that would add 1180 MW to the state's supply. Renewable energy sources like the Wind Power Project (450 MW installed) and Biomass

Project (46.3 MW installed) have been actively promoted by the state government.

Domestic Lighting System (DLS) is being installed under the state plan. 72,491 DLS have beeninstalled in more than 2000 villages of the state.

Power Policy

Rajasthan has been one of the most successful states in implementing wide-ranging reforms inthe electricity sector. With support from the World Bank, the state has made significantimprovements in the performance of its electricity utilities.

Rajasthan is the first state in the country to introduce "open access" in its electricity markets. Withthis provision, any consumer with over 15 MVA load can select its supply company. The state isset to introduce private participation in the electricity sector. Towards this end, the governmenthas recently proposed a new enabling legislation.

Educational infrastructure in Rajasthan

Currently, Rajasthan has over 1 Lacs schools, more than 150 engineering colleges, more than100 polytechnics, 550+ ITIs, and more than 130 MBA institutes. A shift system is followed in thepolytechnics and ITIs. As for seats, the State has over a lacs graduate engineering seats, 20000+diploma seats, and approx 1 Lacs ITI seats. These are much lesser than the number of seats inother States like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh (AP). Also, Rajasthans literacy

rate is lower than the national average; it has a literacy rate of 60.41% (in 2001) as comparedwith the national average of 64.84% (in 2001).

Other planned infrastructure in Rajasthan

RIICO is developing Theme Parks (Special Purpose Industrial Parks) with special set ofinfrastructure and facilities for establishing industries of the same discipline.

8/3/2019 Infrastructure Growth of Rajasthan

3/3

Export Promotion Industrial Parks have been set up at Sitapura in Jaipur, Neemrana in Alwar andBoranada in Jodhpur. EPIP Jaipur is the largest export park in northern India.

RIICO has set up two Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the state for gems & jewellery andhandicrafts at Jaipur and Jodhpur respectively. These zones will be free from all domestic taxburdens and there will be no procedural bottlenecks.

State-of-the-art Special Economic Zone is being developed by Mahindra and Mahindra with aninvestment of US$ 244 million, which will have Infosys and Wipro as anchor investors and wouldattract the best of names from India and abroad.

For movement of cargo, there are Inland Container Depots at Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bhiwadi andBhilwara.