Jaipur woke up to unprecedented security on Monday as the Jaipur Development Authority launched a major anti-encroachment drive on Nandpuri Road in Malviya Nagar — removing five religious structures, including a mosque, temple, satsang hall and shrine, that fall within the road’s legally defined boundary. Internet services remain suspended for 24 hours across large parts of the city.
The drive is part of a long-delayed road-widening project that will expand the 1.5-km stretch running parallel to the railway line from a narrow 25–30-foot road to its recorded width of 80 feet.
Authorities say the widening will directly benefit nearly 50 colonies, improve connectivity to Malviya Nagar, Pradhan Marg and Apex Circle, and ease traffic pressure on Hare Krishna Marg.
The JDA had earlier removed 134 encroachments on the same stretch on May 22, giving religious bodies additional time to comply — a window that has now closed.
The Divisional Commissioner ordered the suspension of mobile internet and social media services across most police station areas of Jaipur North and Jaipur East from midnight on June 7 to midnight on June 8.
The move is aimed at preventing rumours and inflammatory content from circulating on platforms during and after the demolition drive.
Additional Commissioner Rajeev Pachar has warned that anyone spreading communally sensitive or false content will face strict legal action.
Mobile internet, social media and bulk messaging services — across 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks — were suspended across the following areas. Voice calls remained unaffected.
Over 3,000 police personnel have been deployed across the city. Twelve companies of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) have been made available to the JDA on orders from the Director General (Law and Order).
Additional forces have been called in from the Jaipur, Kota and Bharatpur ranges, with roughly 1,000 additional Commissionerate personnel stationed at sensitive locations.
The walled city and other communally sensitive areas are on high alert, with police and RAC personnel in active deployment.
Five religious structures — a mosque, a temple, a satsang hall and a shrine — fall within the 80-foot road boundary recorded in revenue documents. Despite the current road measuring just 25–30 feet in width, the JDA says these structures have blocked the widening project for years.
After 134 other encroachments were cleared on May 22, the parties occupying religious sites were given time to self-demolish. That deadline has now passed, prompting Monday’s action.
Congress MLA Rafiq Khan questioned the urgency of the drive, saying religious sites are matters of deep faith and should be handled through democratic, consent-based processes. He noted that no national highway or critical national project is being built on this stretch and called for decisions to be taken with social harmony in mind.
MLAs Rafiq Khan and Amin Kagzi separately urged authorities to respect all places of worship and ensure community voices are heard.
The Rajasthan Muslim Forum held a prayer gathering ahead of the drive, with leaders alleging the mosque and shrine were being deliberately targeted.
The mosque committee also raised concerns about the timing of demolition notices limiting their window for legal recourse. Community leaders said they will continue opposing the action through peaceful and legal means.
No formal traffic diversions have been officially announced, but residents in and around Nandpuri Road, Malviya Nagar and the walled city should expect significant security presence and possible movement restrictions throughout Monday.
Commuters are advised to use alternate routes where possible and avoid the stretch near the demolition site.
