In Rajasthan, Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) has completed around 90 per cent of projects under the Central government-sponsored Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for upgrading urban infrastructure and services since 2006. RMC Commissioner Ajay Bhadoo said that most of RMC's projects have been completed within the given time limit. He was addressing a meeting of representatives of municipal corporations in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Orissa in Rajkot. The meeting marked the beginning of a two-day exposure visit of Rajkot by eight civic officials from the three states. They included civic officials from Lucknow, Kanpur, Asansol and Bhubaneshwar. The delegates visited water treatment plant in Raiyadhar, sewage treatment plant in Raiya and call centre in west zone office of the RMC. The tour, called Peer Experience and Reflective Learning (PEARL), is organised by National Institute of Urban Affairs, a premier urban research body based in New Delhi. PEARL is an initiative under JNNURM to support cities to actively pursue activities in implementation of projects and reforms. Chirag Pandya, head of JNNURM Cell of RMC, said Rajkot was selected for the tour due to its good record in implementing JNNURM projects. In a presentation, Pandya said the city was awarded 11 projects worth Rs 804 crore so far. These included housing projects (Rs 193 crore) for economically weaker section (EWS) and two projects each for water supply, sewerage, solid waste management, and road and transport.
