Jaipur: Thursday night’s rain, followed by intermittent showers Friday, has once again highlighted the fragile state of civic infrastructure in Jaipur. Residents across several areas, including Jhotwara, Sanganer, Mansarovar, and Vaishali Nagar, experienced significant waterlogging and traffic congestion, severely disrupting daily life.For many, the issue is not merely the inclement weather, but rather the culmination of years of neglect concerning roads, drainage, and sewer systems. Jhotwara, in particular, stands out as one of the most affected areas. Of the four major roads in the constituency, only Lalpura Road is equipped with a sewer network, leaving vast parts without adequate drainage. Locals have noted the striking disparity in infrastructure, pointing out that while a well-developed 2-km stretch serves the homes of local MLA and MP, surrounding neighbourhoods remain plagued by broken roads and inundated streets.“In Aug 2023, BJP’s Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (now local MLA and minister) announced plans to improve our drainage system, yet three years later, there has been no visible progress,” said Devendra Pratap Singh, a Jhotwara resident. He said residents would stage symbolic “boat protests” if conditions do not improve, and stressed, “We are simply asking for basic civic amenities that every citizen deserves.”Mansarovar’s Sector 12 was similarly hit by significant waterlogging, leaving residents struggling to navigate the inundated streets. Radheshyam Upadhyay, a local, said, “A brief spell of rain is enough to flood our streets. Without a permanent drainage system, we will continue facing these problems every monsoon.”Another resident, Nandani Singh, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the dangers waterlogged roads pose to children and the elderly alike. “People pay taxes regularly, but basic facilities such as proper roads and drainage are still missing,” said Mahesh Choudhary, an agitated local.As residents continue to endure the inconveniences each monsoon, they are urging public representatives and authorities to prioritise long-overdue improvements to essential infrastructure to prevent future flooding and restore normalcy to their lives.
