Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Tuesday, 18 August inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth approximately ₹3,500 crore across the state, and flagged off 71 PM e-buses aimed at advancing clean, affordable, and sustainable public transport. The event was held at HCM RIPA in Jaipur.

Key Developments

Of the 71 e-buses flagged off, 24 — bound for Jaipur and Bhilwara — were launched physically from Jaipur, while the remaining 47 for Alwar, Ajmer, Jodhpur, Kota, and Udaipur were launched virtually. The buses are intended to provide citizens with an environment-friendly and comfortable commuting option across six major cities.

Sharma said electric mobility is emerging as a key pillar of economic growth, energy security, and a pollution-free future. He highlighted the expansion of charging infrastructure, the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for the automobile sector, and the PM e-DRIVE scheme as central measures strengthening India's electric vehicle ecosystem.

Direct Benefit Transfers and Worker Welfare

The government transferred more than ₹154 crore through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to 1,32,421 workers and their dependents under various Labour Department schemes. Workers also received digital gas detectors and fire rescue kits during the event.

Healthcare, Infrastructure, and Urban Projects

Among the projects inaugurated were a 128-slice CT scanner and a 1.5 Tesla MRI machine at RUHS, Jaipur; an undergraduate hostel costing over ₹18 crore; and the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at SMS Hospital's Ayushman Tower. A new IPD Tower at Janana Hospital, Chandpole, costing more than ₹51 crore, was also inaugurated.

Other projects included sub-health centres at Abhaypur and Rehlana, a 300-trainee women's hostel at the Rajasthan Police Academy costing over ₹12 crore, and road works in Ajmer worth around ₹24 crore. The government also inaugurated 506 toilets — including 395 Pink Toilets — across urban local bodies at a cost exceeding ₹109 crore, along with LED street-lighting and development works across 57 urban local bodies.

Sewerage, Waste Management, and Traffic

Foundation stones were laid for 76 waste-management projects worth more than ₹625 crore. Jaipur launched sewerage projects worth over ₹465 crore under AMRUT 2.0, involving the laying of more than 507 km of sewer lines expected to benefit around 13 lakh people through connections to nearly 52,000 households.

Seven traffic improvement projects worth ₹81 crore in Jaipur were announced, covering underpasses, U-turns, and subways at key locations. Additional traffic development works worth around ₹60 crore were planned to connect Tonk Road and Mahal Road. Other major initiatives included a rooftop solar project over the Dravyavati River costing more than ₹35 crore and a satellite hospital in Jhotwara.

What the Government Said

Sharma said the initiatives reflect the 'Double Engine' government's commitment to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and contribute to the goal of building a Developed Rajasthan by 2047. Minister Jhabar Singh Kharra said the state government is focusing on basic infrastructure — water, electricity, roads, education, healthcare, and employment — to accelerate Rajasthan's development trajectory.

With projects spanning healthcare, urban sanitation, transport electrification, and sewerage, Tuesday's rollout signals an intensified push by the Rajasthan government ahead of the state's development targets for 2047.