The district administration in Jaipur, Rajasthan, has temporarily halted Internet services in various areas as a precautionary measure before a significant encroachment removal operation scheduled for Monday. The move aims to prevent potential disruptions to public order during the road-widening campaign by the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA). Authorities are concerned about the spread of rumors, misinformation, or provocative content through online platforms.
To maintain law and order, Jaipur Divisional Commissioner V. Sarwan Kumar ordered the suspension of 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G mobile Internet services in specific zones from midnight on Sunday until midnight on Monday. This restriction also includes bulk SMS services and Internet-based messaging platforms to curb the dissemination of inflammatory content. Notably, access to social media applications like WhatsApp, Facebook, and X will be limited during this period.
The Internet shutdown will impact the Jaipur Police Commissionerate and neighboring district areas. Essential government and emergency services are exempt from the suspension. In sensitive locations, additional police personnel have been deployed, and cyber teams are monitoring social media activities. Officials have warned of strict actions against those spreading false information that may disrupt public peace, urging citizens to cooperate with official directives and avoid sharing unverified content.
As part of the road-widening initiative, the JDA plans to remove five religious structures encroaching on the road’s right-of-way. To ensure a smooth operation, extra police forces have been requested from Jaipur, Kota, and Bharatpur ranges, with heightened security in sensitive zones like the Walled City. The administration is proceeding with the removal of encroachments following a previous operation on May 22, where 134 encroachments were cleared along the same route.
Officials highlight that despite the road’s sanctioned width of 80 feet, encroachments have reduced some sections to only 25-30 feet. The 1.5-kilometer stretch connecting Nandpuri Underpass to Jagatpura passes through major residential areas, with the widening expected to alleviate traffic congestion on Hare Krishna Marg and enhance connectivity in the region. The project aims to benefit residents of over 50 nearby colonies, including Malviya Nagar and other rapidly developing residential zones.
