Jaipur, March 11: Diya Kumari, Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan and Minister for Tourism, Art, Literature, Culture and Archaeology, chaired a high-level review meeting on Wednesday at the Tourism Bhawan to assess the progress of departmental projects, schemes and budget announcements.
The meeting was attended by Omkar Singh Lakhawat, Chairman of the Rajasthan Heritage Authority, and Praveen Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary for Tourism, Art, Literature, Culture and Archaeology, along with senior officials from the concerned departments.
Focus on Budget Implementation
During the meeting, the Deputy Chief Minister instructed officials to expedite the implementation of pending budget announcements for the financial years 2024–25 and 2025–26. She also directed departments to prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and cost proposals for the announcements made in the 2026–27 state budget, in coordination with executing agencies.
Rajasthan Day Week Celebrations
Diya Kumari directed officials to organize Rajasthan Day Week from March 14 to March 19 with grandeur across the state. She emphasized that regional folk arts and cultural traditions should be showcased prominently so that the celebrations highlight the state’s rich cultural heritage.
She also noted that November 18, 2027 will mark the 300th anniversary of the founding of Jaipur, and asked officials to prepare a comprehensive plan to celebrate the occasion as a grand festival.
Promotion of Cultural Festivals
In line with the 2026–27 budget announcements, she directed that dance festivals based on famous regional dance forms be organized at every divisional level in the state. The initiative aims to provide local folk artists with performance platforms and give tourists an opportunity to experience regional cultural traditions.
Tourism Initiatives in Jaipur
To enhance visitor experience in Jaipur, the Deputy Chief Minister proposed the introduction of day and night luxury bus tours through a public–private partnership model. The buses will feature decorative visuals of major tourist monuments and offer guided city tours for visitors.
She also reviewed the functioning of the Tourist Assistance Force and instructed officials to conduct refresher training programs for tourist guides with experts in history, art and culture so they can provide authentic and detailed information to visitors.
Additionally, she directed the tourism department to accelerate the development of a tourism mobile app and web portal, which will include information about tourist assistance services.
Key Tourism and Heritage Projects
The meeting also reviewed progress on several major tourism initiatives, including:
Maharana Pratap Tourist Circuit
Pushkar Project
Tribal Tourist Circuit
Officials were directed to ensure the swift implementation of these projects.
Conservation of Heritage Structures
The Deputy Chief Minister reviewed conservation efforts in the Shekhawati region, particularly the restoration of its historic havelis. She instructed officials to accelerate the work and prepare a cluster-based action plan for the restoration projects.
The state government has allocated ₹200 crore in the 2026–27 budget for the conservation of Shekhawati havelis.
She also discussed the restoration of 11 identified stepwells (baoris) and directed that conservation work must use traditional architectural styles and similar construction materials to maintain historical authenticity.
