Principal Secretary Rajesh Yadav Directs Tourism Department to Bring All Services Online

Jaipur : A review meeting of the Department of Tourism was held on Wednesday at the Tourism Bhawan in Jaipur, chaired by Principal Secretary of Tourism, Art and Culture and Chairman of RTDC, Mr. Rajesh Yadav. Commissioner of Tourism and Managing Director of RTDC, Ms. Rukmani Riyad, was also present.

During the meeting, Mr. Yadav reviewed key points such as implementation and progress of departmental schemes, construction projects, and centrally sponsored schemes. He directed that in places where posts are vacant, alternative outsourcing should be arranged so that departmental work is not disrupted. He instructed that the 13 Tourism Officer posts, 20 Assistant Tourism Officer posts, and other vacancies be filled through alternative means.

Appointments Based on Requirement
A presentation was made to Mr. Yadav detailing the directorate and its subordinate offices. The department currently has one directorate, four regional tourism offices, 15 tourist reception centers, and 14 tourist information centers within the state, in addition to one tourist reception center and four information centers outside the state. Of the 269 sanctioned posts in the department, 162 are currently filled, and 107 are vacant. Mr. Yadav directed that appointments should be made based on actual need to ensure continuity and efficiency of operations, and also emphasized improving the skills and qualifications of officials.

Policy Finalization and Approvals
Mr. Yadav discussed drafts of the Rajasthan Film Policy, Rajasthan Tourism Policy 2025, and Rajasthan Adventure Tourism Promotion Scheme 2025. He instructed the department to expedite finalization and ensure timely approval of these policies as per procedural norms.

IT Wing Review and Online Service Delivery
He also reviewed the work of the department’s IT wing and issued directions for improvement. He instructed that all departmental services should be made available online for greater efficiency.

Ease of Doing Business and RajNivesh (One-Stop Shop)
Mr. Yadav also reviewed the Ease of Doing Business and RajNivesh initiatives and issued necessary instructions for their implementation.

Systematic Collection of Tourist Data
He stressed the importance of systematically collecting data on tourists visiting the state. He instructed that data be collected regularly from railway stations, toll plazas, and bus stations to maintain up-to-date statistics. He added that a dedicated software or mobile app could also be developed for this purpose.

Tourism Fair and Festival Book
Mr. Yadav suggested that a comprehensive “Tourism Fair and Festival Book” be published by the department to provide full information on all tourism-related fairs and festivals, which would be highly beneficial for tourists.

Central Government-Sanctioned Projects
It was informed that the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, approved two projects on 26 November 2024 under the SASKI scheme:

1. Development of the Amer-Nahargarh surrounding area (₹49.31 crore)
2. Development of the Jal Mahal area (₹96.61 crore)
   A total of ₹145.92 crore was sanctioned, and the first installment — 66% of the project cost amounting to ₹96.30 crore — has been released to the Finance Department.
   Consultant firm M/s Foreinfra Private Limited has been appointed for these projects by Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC). The Executive Agency for the road corridor and beautification work from Zorawar Singh Gate to Amer Parking is Jaipur Heritage Municipal Corporation.

Timely Submission of DPRs for SASKI Projects
Mr. Yadav directed that agencies should promptly prepare and submit Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) to ensure timely execution of the projects and optimum utilization of funds. These projects are expected to enhance the beauty of key tourist sites in Jaipur and attract more visitors.

The meeting was attended by RTDC Executive Director and Additional Director (Tourism Administration) Mr. Rajesh Singh, Joint Secretary (Tourism) Mr. Mohammad Abubakr, Additional Directors Mr. Anand Tripathi and Mr. Pawan Jain, and Joint Director of Tourism Development Mr. Rajesh Sharma, along with other departmental officials.