7- 8 Infrastructure in Rajasthan; Public-Private Model for Economic Transformation | RAS RPSC Prelims Preparation - Notes, Study Material & Tests - RPSC RAS (Rajasthan) PDF Download

7. INFRASTRUCTURE IN RAJASTHAN

Infrastructure is back bone of any economy. The brilliant conceptualization and infrastructure made Las Vegas what it is today from a desert, and this is a lesson for Rajasthan.

Transport:-

Transport network plays a backbone for the economic growth of the state. Following facts are important for RAS/RTS Prelims:-

• Total Road Length=2015003 KM
• Total National Highway= 7310KM
• District with Largest Road length= Barmer> jodhpur  nagaur Bikaner pali
• National Highway number 15 has largest length in Rajasthan i.e. 875Km

Major National Highways:-

• NH 8- From Delhi
• NH 11-agra-bharatpur-jaipur-bikaner (521 km)
• NH12- Jaipur-tonk-bundi-kota-jhalawar-bhopal(412 km)
• NH15 –pathankot-sriganganganagar-bikaner-jaisalmer-barmer(875 km)
• NH14- bewar-pali-sirohi (306 km)
• NH11A- dausa-manohapur(61 km)

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in the Budget 2014-15 speech also announced to develop six roads of 1,000 km as East-West Corridor, establishment of Rajasthan State Highway Authority, output and performance based road contract system (OPRC system) for proper maintenance and development of one road in every Panchayat under 'Garmin Gaurav Path Scheme'.

Road Development Policy 2013 of Rajasthan was enacted for the development of roadways within the state.

RIDCOR

Road Infrastructure Development Company of Rajasthan (RIDCOR), which is a 50:50 joint venture between Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services and Rajasthan government

The Rajasthan MEGA HIGHWAYS PROJECT is premised on the Government of Rajasthan's vision of creating world-class infrastructure facilities in the State with the aim of making it the most favoured investment and tourism destination in the country

On its part, RIDCOR has set for itself the mission of delivering the Rajasthan MEGA HIGHWAYS PROJECT within cost, time and quality. RIDCOR's success in implementing the Project would enable it to obtain additional mandates from Government of Rajasthan, Government of India and National Highways Authority of India

Airports:-

• Jaipur-Sangner
• Udaipur-Dabok
• Jodhpur-Ratanada
• Kota

8. Public Private Partnership Model for Economic Transformation in the State.

Rajasthan ranks fourth in the list of Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects in the country. As per a report released by the Ascham, there are seven major urban development projects worth over Rs 1,400 crore currently being undertaken in construction sector in PPP mode and several others in rural areas.

The state government, with its strong inclination for developing infrastructure through support from private sector, has fast-tracked various projects under PPP. Some of the projects in the ongoing scheme in urban areas include:-

• alternate route to Ghat Ki Ghuni (Rs 150 cr),
• ring road project (Rs 890 cr),
• multi-level parking at Ashok Marg (Rs 90 cr) and
• Affordable housing scheme (Rs 348 cr).
  
  Apart from it, thirty road projects entailing investment of Rs 4733.40 crore are under implementation. Two major projects namely :-

• Jaipur to Bhilwara project and
• Chomu to Mahla via Renwal, Jobner

These have been taken up with VGF (viability gap fund) assistance for state highways having a length 294 km and costing Rs 354 crore.
"To develop the necessary infrastructure in the state, it has become necessary to engage private sector. It reduces the financial burden at the same time provides needed services," said Sahnti Dhariwal, UDH minister.
However, the major projects in PPP mode has been initiated in power sector.

• Lignite-based power plant at Bhadresh in Barmer alone stands at Rs 5,000 cr.
• Phase-II of Jaipur Metro. From Sitapura to Ambabari, with estimated cost of Rs 6,583 crore), the operation and maintenance of entire network is proposed on PPP mode.

"The road and power sector are capital intensive projects. Apart from it consumes lot of time and resources and at present no government in the country is equipped to carry mega projects at one go. Managing them is a big issue given the scarcity of engineers in the government," said a senior official of the planning department.
"The government itself is not equipped with so much of resources to carry it on its own. That is why we now have a separate policy on PPP both at centre and state level," he added.