The Rajasthan High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of reports revealing the severely deteriorating condition of roads in Jaipur. Noting mounting concerns over widespread waterlogging, broken surfaces, exposed manholes, and traffic gridlock, the Court questioned whether Jaipur, renowned globally as the heritage-rich "Pink City," is slipping into the state of a "sink city." It emphasized that neglect in maintaining basic civil infrastructure was undermining public safety and damaging the city’s international reputation.
During the hearing, Justice Pramil Kumar Mathur underscored that Jaipur holds UNESCO World Heritage City status, a designation that entails responsibility to uphold both its physical heritage and civic dignity. He pointed out that roads in a city built with taxpayers’ money are collapsing within days due to substandard construction and hasty approvals, highlighting a cycle where poor workmanship goes unpunished and habitual offenders continue receiving contracts.
The Court observed that while citizens pay taxes expecting basic services, they face daily hardship navigating roads that have turned perilous in the monsoon season, with flooding and blocked drains further aggravating conditions. It held that such failures violate fundamental constitutional provisions related to the right to life, personal motion, public health, and the directive principles supporting environmental protection and public welfare.
With concern over both legacy and livelihood, the Court directed the state government to submit a status report within two weeks, detailing the current conditions of roads across Jaipur. Authorities, including the Jaipur Development Authority and Jaipur Municipal Corporations, were ordered to conduct a comprehensive survey of road infrastructure and report findings within the same timeframe. Subsequently, a four-week deadline was imposed to produce a detailed action plan specifying repair timelines, proposed improvements, and measures to prevent recurrence of such structural decay.
Notices were issued to senior officials including the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary of Urban Development and Housing, Commissioner of the JDA, and both Municipal Corporation Commissioners. These individuals were required to answer how the administrative framework had permitted such widespread infrastructure neglect, and to outline concrete measures to restore functionality and safety of Jaipur’s roadway network.
The Court emphasized that the failing roads are more than a nuisance—they pose serious risks to residents, impede tourism, and blur Jaipur’s identity as a city of heritage and civic pride. It warned that if left unaddressed, such municipal breakdown would erode public trust in local governance and dissuade formal economic activity that depends on urban mobility and safety.
The suo motu action underscores judicial intent to prompt immediate corrective steps. The Court made clear that execution would be closely supervised, with follow-up hearings scheduled to evaluate compliance. Officials were reminded that neglect in infrastructure is not a minor oversight—it endangers lives, heritage, and institutional credibility.
Through its directions, the Rajasthan High Court aims to reestablish civic accountability, ensure infrastructural integrity, and preserve Jaipur’s image. This proactive judicial response reflects the urgency of restoring safe and sustainable road networks integral to public welfare and urban identity.
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