Change of guard throws ‘smart works’ off guard

The task to develop state capital as a Smart City rests on shoulders of ‘officiating’ and ‘acting’ incharges. But three of the major development agencies are working in absence of appointment at their top post and the task has been handed over as “additional charge” to officers deployed in other departments. This arrangement on adhoc basis though has slowed down the work progress. The officers already occupied with responsibilities of their home department find it difficult to provide full time dedication to the ‘additional charge’. The city’s development thus is being impacted.

Jaipur Smart City Limited 

The government company constituted for implementation of Smart City concept is operating without a chief executive officer (CEO). The committee was constituted soon after inclusion of Jaipur among the 20 cities selected under prime minister Narendra Modi’s flagship Smart City scheme. 

However, in less than two years the Jaipur Smart City Limited had witnessed three CEOs and the post is yet again vacant for past two months. 

But even the CEOs officially appointed had a short tenure on the position the development works kept suffering. 

At time of JSCL constitution the charge of CEO was given to the then commissioner of Jaipur Municipal Corporation AT Pendekar. He was soon replaced by an IAS officer V Sarvan in April, 2016. His tenure too was short lived and he vacated the post in November the same year. Sarvan was replaced by Sandesh Nayak who again in six months was transferred to Sirohi as district collector. Since the position has remain vacant.  

Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation 

The ambitious Jaipur metro project is being developed by the JMRC. The corporation since its constitution was headed by senior IAS NC Goel. The contemporary Ashok Gehlot government had trusted him for implementation of the project and appointed him as chairman and managing director of JMRC in April, 2012. Goel since continued to occupy the post and it was under his supervision that the metro operations commenced. His association with the project was obvious and even as government changed at the state, the new government too trusted him with the responsibility. In his tenure the metro work continued to expand and underground corridors were developed in Walled City. However, he had to vacate the post following his promotion as assistant chief secretary. The post since remains vacant and the charge of JMRC CMD is with ACS (UDH) Mukesh Sharma.  

Jaipur City Transport Service Limited 

Constituted to provide quality public transportation within Jaipur, the Jaipur City Transport Service Limited (JCTSL) has post of managing director vacant. The company is operating the low floor buses and is a major component of city’s public transport infrastructure. The charge of its managing director though is with an IFS Akansha Chaudhary.

Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation

It has been more than three years that RTDC got a full-time chairman. The post has been lying vacant after Randeep Dhankar left the post when new BJP government came to power in December 2013. 
It has remained the practice of the government that the post is filled by political people. 

Till now no full-time appointment has been made in the corporation. 

The current additional chief secretary (ACS) of tourism N C Goel is also holding additional charge of the corporation.

Rajasthan State Sports Council

The central body of regulating and maintaining the sports activities in the state is also headless. ACS JC Mohanty is holding the additional charge for last several years and no political appointment or a official with full-time responsibility has been made.

It was congress leader Shivcharan Mali who was the chairman during the tenure of the Congress government and after that the position has not been filled. 

Rajasthan Housing Board though has a chairman IAS Umesh Kumar with full-time responsibility, the post in past  has been filled by political appointment.