Constant changing of CEO’s has put brakes on the Jaipur Smart City Mission project. Four CEOs of Jaipur Smart City Ltd have been changed in the last two years.
None of them have been able to complete full term as nobody lasted for more than six months. While Ravi Jain is the officiating CEO for last one year, government has now posted Suresh Kumar Ola as the new CEO.
Under the Smart City Mission, Jaipur Smart City Limited (JSCL) was formed on March 12, 2016. Ashutosh AT Padnekar, the then Commissioner of Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) was given additional charge of CEO of JSCL.
A month later, the state government appointed V Saravana Kumar as the first CEO of JSCL.Even after Saravana Kumar became CEO,the Jaipur Smart City projects could not attain pace. Even before Saravana could start the work of Smart City projects, the government transferred him. By transferring Saravana Kumar, the state government made Sandesh Nayak the CEO of JSCL on November 9,2016.
Nayak initiated a fast approach to the smart city project.Tenders of various projects were finalised, including bike sharing project, Walled City market restoration project, Smart Road Project, Smart Class Project.Meanwhile, on May 25, 2017, Nayak was also transferred and JMC Commissioner Ravi Jain was given additional charge of JSCL.
For the last 11 months, Jain is looking after JSCL’s work.In the absence of regular CEO, the work of Smart City Project has not been able to catch the speed. Mayor Ashok Lahoti, BJP legislator and councillor have raised questions about the works of Smart City projects. There has been controversy over the smart city project of Ajmeri Gate and Kishanpol Bazar.
