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Time of India
21 hours ago
- Climate
- Time of India
City infrastructure crumbles as monsoon exposes civic bodies' negligence
1 2 3 4 5 6 Jaipur: The Pink City's claims of monsoon preparedness lay in ruins Friday as just two days of rain brought India's tourist hotspot to its knees, exposing years of infrastructural neglect and bureaucratic apathy. In a grave incident that highlighted the city's crumbling infrastructure, a massive sinkhole - 15 feet deep and 60 feet long - emerged near Muhana Mandi, swallowing two parked vehicles and forcing authorities to completely shut down the arterial road. This catastrophic failure came mere weeks after district collector Jitendra Kumar Soni confidently declared, "This time Jaipur won't drown." As the situation deteriorated, Soni declined to comment Friday. A senior official from the collectorate said, "Our role is to monitor departments; execution is their responsibility." While the city struggled to stay afloat, JMC Greater mayor Somya Gurjar's priority appeared to be International Yoga Day preparations, drawing sharp criticism from residents. "When the city is sinking, the administration is busy preparing for yoga," remarked a frustrated citizen. The city's major thoroughfares, including MI Road and Tonk Road, transformed into virtual rivers, paralysing traffic and stranding thousands of commuters. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo In an ironic twist, even the Jaipur Municipal Corporation-Greater's office became inaccessible due to severe waterlogging, leaving staff trapped inside and citizens stranded outside. On key routes such as JLN Marg, waterlogging caused severe traffic slowdowns. A traffic official said, "As vehicle speed dropped, congestion built up. With sidewalks submerged, pedestrians were forced onto the roads, worsening the gridlock." Adding to the chaos, three dangerous potholes appeared near the Ganga Jamuna petrol pump in Mansarovar, with authorities failing to even install basic warning barricades. In Vijay Nagar Phase II, Kartarpura, shoddy pipeline work by PHED led to multiple road cave-ins, trapping vehicles and endangering lives. Loose soil in Gopalpura and other areas washed away, causing road collapses and triggering a dispute between the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) and the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED). JDA Superintendent Engineer Deepak Mathur said, "The road sank because the water pipeline beneath broke. It will only be repaired after the pipe is fixed." A PHED official responded, "The road design was flawed. The collapse led to water seeping below and damaging the line." This infrastructure breakdown raises serious questions about the public money spent on pre-monsoon preparations and the city's disaster management capabilities. As Jaipur continues to sink under the weight of administrative negligence, the only thing floating seems to be empty promises.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Varsities, open school exams postponed in Raj due to NEET
Jaipur: Due to the NEET UG 2025 exam scheduled for May 4, state-based universities and the state open school have postponed their exams scheduled for May 2-3. Rajasthan State Open School issued a notification Thursday stating the Sanskrit exam scheduled for May 2 will now be held on May 19, and the Psychology exam scheduled for May 3 will be held on May 20. Rajasthan University , in a public notice, said exams on May 2-3 were being postponed and new exam dates will be published on the university website soon. Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Shekhawati University in Sikar issued a similar notice. In a review meeting on Wednesday to check security measures for NEET UG 2025, Jaipur district collector Jitendra Kumar Soni was apprised that six city coordinators and 90 centre superintendents have been appointed. In Jaipur, over 36,000 candidates will be appearing for NEET UG. Central University of Rajasthan Thursday informed that a NEET UG 2025 exam centre had been set up in the university and issued instructions for candidates and parents. A total of 1,752 students will appear for NEET at the Anand Bhalerao said, "We urge all candidates to arrive at the exam centre well in advance." Entry will be allowed from 10.30am, said officials
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Time of India
Raj intensifies efforts to ensure exit of Pak nationals by April 27
1 2 Jaipur/Jodhpur/Jaisalmer: The Rajasthan govt has intensified monitoring of Pakistani nationals staying in the state on short-term visas, following a clear directive from the Union govt to ensure their departure by April 27. The directive followed the terrorist attack targeting tourists in Pahalgam on April 22. Officials said nearly 1,500 to 1,700 Pakistani nationals registered with various Foreigners Registration Offices (FROs) across Rajasthan over past three months. Many of them have already left, while those still present have been informed about the impending deadline through their guarantors or local guardians. The FRROs, they said, is working overtime to verify the number of individuals who departed for Pakistan or those still in India. Officials clarified that Pakistani nationals who applied for Long Term Visas (LTVs) are permitted to stay while their applications are under process. However, those visiting on medical visas must leave by April 29. In Jaipur alone, 21 Pakistani nationals registered their arrival in the past 30 days. Of these, 19 already applied for LTVs, while two individuals departed for Pakistan on Saturday. "I am in constant touch with both the city and rural FRROs to ensure that every Pakistani national leaves the state before the deadline," said Jitendra Kumar Soni, District Magistrate, Jaipur. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tizi-ouzou: AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Aroun... Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo The Jodhpur division has the highest number of visitors from Pakistan in the country, with over 1,000 individuals registered with the FRO in the past three months. "Since the directions were issued, 27 Pakistani nationals left till Saturday morning, while others have been informed through their guarantors to expedite their departure. By evening today, the majority will reach the Attari-Wagah border. Guarantors or local guardians have been asked to approach the FRO to provide necessary assistance. Since we are collecting data on their departure, the exact number will be known by Sunday evening," said Narpat Singh Rathore from the Jodhpur FRO. He clarified that nationals awaiting LTVs have been advised to submit proof of their application as required for their continued stay. Jodhpur also holds the largest number of Pakistani nationals on LTVs in the country, with over 16,000 individuals. Officials in Pali, Sirohi, and Jalore confirmed that they also have visitors from Pakistan; however, those present already applied for LTVs and thus none have to return immediately. All districts have been directed to submit a final report by the morning of April 28 on the status of Pakistani nationals. In the five border districts, 17 Pakistani citizens — 4 from Jaisalmer, 6 from Barmer, 1 from Phalodi, 2 from Balotra, and 4 from Bikaner— have received directions to leave. Jodhpur Zone CID DIG Ajay Singh said four women from minority communities received clearance to return to Pakistan via the Attari route. In Jaisalmer, four women from the minority communities from Pakistan currently reside on short-term visas, including Maikarm Khatu and Sachul. Two of these women, who married Indian men in 2023, arrived in Jaisalmer on August 11. Director General (Intelligence), Sanjay Agarwal, told TOI, "Most Pakistani nationals on short visas have already left. The FROs are providing assistance to those who require help. The instructions are clear: the Union govt's directions must be implemented in letter and spirit." However, the decision has drawn criticism. Calling the return of Pakistani nationals a contradiction to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), Hindu Singh Sodha, founder of Seemant Lok Sangathan, an organisation working for Pakistani immigrants, said, "The majority of those visiting Rajasthan are Hindus facing persecution in Pakistan. The short 48-hour deadline is affecting those who arrived in the past 10–20 days and are in the process of applying for LTVs. The govt should at least respect the CAA and revoke the decision for religious minorities protected under the Act."
