By Amrit Pal Sidhu
New Delhi/Jaipur, November 3, 2026:
In a significant initiative aimed at accelerating Rajasthan's development agenda and strengthening coordination between the Central and State governments, Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas held as many as 19 high-level meetings with Union ministers, senior Central government officials and other top functionaries during his two-day official visit to New Delhi.
The extensive consultations, undertaken in line with the development priorities of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, focused on expediting major infrastructure projects, resolving pending administrative issues and ensuring effective implementation of public welfare schemes across Rajasthan.
Key Meetings with Senior Central Government Officials
During his visit, Chief Secretary V. Srinivas met Union Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Rachna Shah, on Tuesday and discussed important personnel and administrative matters concerning Rajasthan.
He also attended a Diwali luncheon organised with All India Services officers belonging to the Rajasthan cadre, providing an opportunity for interaction and coordination with senior officers serving in different capacities.
Jaipur Metro Expansion Takes Centre Stage
In another important engagement, the Chief Secretary met Union Urban Development Secretary Satendra Singh at Sankalp Bhawan in New Delhi.
The meeting focused on the progress of major urban infrastructure initiatives, particularly the Jaipur Metro expansion, PM E-Bus Sewa and other urban development projects.
Highlighting the state government's commitment to strengthening public transport infrastructure, Srinivas informed the Central government that work on the 3.80-kilometre Jaipur Metro extension from Badi Chaupar to Transport Nagar was progressing.
He further disclosed that the proposed second phase of the Jaipur Metro, extending approximately 41 kilometres from Prahladpura to Todi Mor, would include 36 stations, marking a major expansion of the city's urban transport network.
Rajasthan to Get 1,150 Electric Buses Under PM E-Bus Sewa
The ambitious PM E-Bus Sewa scheme also figured prominently in the discussions.
The Chief Secretary apprised Central officials of the progress regarding 675 electric buses sanctioned in the first phase for eight cities of Rajasthan, along with 475 additional electric buses approved under the second phase.
With a total of 1,150 electric buses sanctioned under the two phases, the initiative is expected to strengthen public transport services and promote environmentally sustainable urban mobility.
Discussions also covered the development of bus depots and charging infrastructure, which are essential for the effective operation of electric bus fleets.
100-Day Action Plans Prepared for Urban Development
During the meeting, Srinivas informed the Union Urban Development Secretary that, following directions from Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, all urban local bodies in Rajasthan had prepared comprehensive 100-day action plans.
These action plans focus on improving sanitation, repairing and upgrading roads, strengthening street-light infrastructure and enhancing essential civic amenities.
The Chief Secretary emphasised the importance of time-bound implementation and administrative coordination to ensure that the benefits of urban development initiatives reach citizens.
'Rang De Gulabi' Initiative Beautifies 617 Walls Across Jaipur
The Chief Secretary also highlighted Jaipur Municipal Corporation's public participation-based initiative, 'Rang De Gulabi', aimed at enhancing the visual appeal and cleanliness of the Pink City.
He informed officials that under the second phase of the initiative, 617 walls across 150 municipal wards had been beautified through community participation.
The initiative was presented as an example of citizen involvement in urban improvement and beautification programmes.
Focus on Resolving Pending Issues and Fast-Tracking Projects
Throughout his two-day visit, Chief Secretary V. Srinivas placed particular emphasis on the early resolution of pending matters involving various Central ministries and departments.
The discussions covered Rajasthan's major development priorities, administrative requirements, infrastructure projects and effective execution of public welfare programmes.
The Chief Secretary stressed the need for stronger institutional coordination between the Central and State governments to facilitate timely decisions and remove administrative bottlenecks.
High-Level Delhi Visit Highlights Rajasthan's Development Priorities
The series of 19 meetings reflects the Rajasthan government's efforts to pursue its development agenda through sustained engagement with Central authorities.
With Jaipur Metro expansion, electric mobility, urban infrastructure, civic amenities and administrative coordination featuring prominently in the discussions, the visit brought several important state-level development priorities before senior Central government officials.
The consultations are expected to facilitate further coordination on pending issues and support the implementation of key development projects across Rajasthan.