World Bank proposes $385.7 million SUTRA project for Rajasthan

The World Bank has prepared a proposal for the Sustainable Urban Transformation in Rajasthan Accelerated (SUTRA) project, an initiative estimated to cost $385.7 million (over Rs 3,500 crore). The project aims to improve urban amenities, strengthen infrastructure, promote tourism, and enhance the administrative and financial capacities of urban local bodies in Rajasthan.

The initiative will cover 32 urban local bodies across four major clusters—Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, and Bharatpur—along with 28 associated satellite towns. By 2026, the combined population of these areas is projected to exceed 7.8 million.

Key objectives include revitalizing historical and cultural heritage, improving urban transport and connectivity, strengthening solid waste management, and upgrading civic amenities. The project also seeks to address environmental challenges such as water scarcity during extreme heat and waterlogging during monsoon seasons, while improving revenue administration and debt management for local authorities.