US concerned over progress of Ajmer Smart City projects

Jaipur: The embassy of the United States has expressed displeasure over the progress of Smart City projects in Ajmer . The embassy had extended support of over $2 million to the project till date.

Officials of the concerned US department, the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), in Ajmer said the progress was not in tune with the agreements made between them and the Rajasthan government.

Mehnaz Ansari, country representative, USTDA, who visited Ajmer with other officials to check the progress of projects, was not provided any information by city authorities. Smart City project officials and the district collector of Ajmer have sought a week’s time to update USTDA on the project’s status.

“Unfortunately, most of the Smart City team has moved on or have been transferred. It will take some time for the new administration to gather information on all the work done over the past four years. I have spoken to civil society members also regarding the projects. I will submit my final report once the latest update is made available to me,” Ansari told TOI.

In 2014, the US government, headed by the then President Barack Obama, had announced in a joint statement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help India develop three cities—Ajmer, Prayagraj (then Allahabad) and Visakhapatnam—as world-class cities.

Since the project was announced, the US department has been making consistent efforts to make the project a reality.

Ajmer was missing from the first and second Smart City lists announced by the Union urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu. This came as a disappointment for the USTDA, which swung into action and redrafted the Smart City proposal. This they claimed paved the way for the Ajmer to enter the league.

“The US has shown consistency in its commitment by regularly sending its experts to guide project officials. It has held workshops and training programmes, including visits by officials to the US. The aim was to see Ajmer on the list of a world class city with support from the US,” said Ansari.

Several delegations from the US, including the department of commerce, US Export-Import Bank and other trade and economic agencies, have visited Ajmer to explore cultural and economic ties with Ajmer.