Post by : Meena Rani

UNESCO Raises Alarm Over Jaipur Metro Extension into Walled City Without Heritage Assessment

In October 2025, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee publicly expressed grave concern over the ongoing metro extension in Jaipur’s Walled City area — particularly the stretch from Badi Chaupar to Transport Nagar — because construction began without a completed Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA). 

The Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation (JMRC) and Rajasthan state authorities are under scrutiny for moving ahead with metro infrastructure in a UNESCO-protected area without finalizing heritage assessments, raising alarms about the protection of the city's historic fabric, architectural integrity, and the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of Jaipur’s heritage status.

This article delves into: what UNESCO’s complaint is, the status of the Jaipur metro extension, heritage impact assessment norms, the tension between urban mobility and conservation, stakeholder perspectives, risks, and recommendations for reconciling heritage and development.

Context: Jaipur’s Walled City and heritage status

Jaipur as a UNESCO World Heritage City

Jaipur, India, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage City in 2019, recognized for its urban planning, historic architecture, fortifications, and integrated design of streets and gates. The Walled City or Pink City zone holds dense heritage structures, narrow streets, ancient stepwells (baoris/bawaris), old havelis, gates (chaupars), and a consistent skyline that reflects Plan-based morphology. 

With that status come responsibilities: any new major infrastructure within or adjacent to the heritage zone requires careful conservation planning, architectural control, and heritage impact assessment prior to execution.

Metro extension plan and controversy

Jaipur already has operational metro corridors connecting several parts of the city. The new extension under discussion is intended to push further into the Walled City, from Badi Chaupar (Chaupar area) toward Transport Nagar. That stretch would pass through densely built, narrow lanes and heritage precincts.

In 2024, initial construction began in parts of this extension, including underground works or utility shift operations in areas like Ramganj Bazar. However, critical heritage clearances and HIA processes had not been fully completed. UNESCO’s latest State of Conservation (SoC) 2025 report flags that this is a contravention of heritage protection norms. 

Though JMRC claims to have halted active construction inside the Walled City some months ago, questions remain about how initial works were permitted and whether foundational decisions were made prematurely.

What UNESCO says: Concern over absent Heritage Impact Assessment

Heritage Impact Assessment: what and why

A Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) is a structured process that studies the potential effects of development projects on heritage values (architecture, fabric, setting, views, materials, intangible values). It is essential in World Heritage sites to ensure new works do not degrade the very values that led to UNESCO listing.

In the 2025 SoC report, UNESCO explicitly notes that metro extension works and station constructions in the Walled City are listed as “ongoing” while the HIAs are still in process — meaning construction proceeded before the assessments were finalized. This suggests that the sequence of approvals is reversed, which is not consistent with UNESCO guidelines. 

UNESCO has formally requested the Rajasthan government to clarify how projects proceeded without completed HIAs, and provide documentation of how criteria for HIA initiation and project staging were determined. The Committee may push for further review or sanctions if heritage norms are undermined.

SoC report and conservation factors

The SoC 2025 document reiterates other heritage threats to Jaipur: encroachments, lack of strict enforcement, structural alterations, and pressure from large infrastructure works. In particular, it lists the metro project, and conservation of stepwells/baoris/bawaris, as ongoing projects whose impacts are not yet fully assessed. 

The report urges the State Party (Rajasthan) to submit the Special Area Heritage Plan (SAHP), a site management plan, and the inventory of heritage elements contributing to Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), to the World Heritage Centre.

Stakeholder perspectives and responses

Jaipur Metro / JMRC stance

JMRC management has declined to comment publicly on UNESCO’s concerns, stating that the extension project is currently on hold in Walled City zones. 

A former JMRC project director, Akhilesh Saxena, indicated that the HIA tender was floated in parallel with preparatory works, including shifting underground utilities in Ramganj Bazar. But he acknowledged that active structural construction inside the heritage precinct was paused when controversies emerged.

Saxena further noted that, for some utility works, the HIA was not considered necessary — but this raises concern about selective application of heritage rules.

Heritage experts and civil society voices

Rima Hooja, archaeologist and heritage expert who contributed to Jaipur’s UNESCO dossier, argues that both JMRC and Jaipur Municipal Corporation Heritage (JMC-Heritage) share responsibility to ensure HIAs are completed before construction starts. She questions how project feasibility can be reliably assessed without first understanding heritage risks and mitigation. 

Other civil society groups warn that the character, skyline, vistas, and structural fabric of the Walled City are vulnerable to even small underground or structural incursions. They emphasize that heritage zones demand a cautious “least intrusion” approach.

State government and heritage agencies

The Urban Development & Housing (UDH) ministry and relevant secretaries have been nonresponsive publicly so far. UNESCO’s request for clarification obliges the state to respond with details on project approvals, HIA status, and enforcement mechanisms.

Meanwhile, JMC-Heritage’s enforcement credibility comes under scrutiny: effective heritage oversight requires trained staff, monitoring, enforcement of bylaws, and coordination with development agencies. Jaipur’s Heritage Cell and planning bodies must assert authority to review and regulate construction in heritage zones.

Risks and challenges: What could go wrong

Loss of UNESCO status or reputational damage

Failure to comply with Heritage Impact Assessment norms may jeopardize Jaipur’s World Heritage status or lead to censure by UNESCO. This would be a severe blow to the city’s global heritage branding, tourism appeal, and conservation credentials.

Irreversible damage to heritage assets

Construction without proper assessment may damage underground heritage fabric (foundations, old structures, drainage), alter sightlines, compromise structural stability of old buildings, disturb soil and water regimes, or introduce vibrations and stresses into fragile zones.

Legal and regulatory backlash

Courts, heritage bodies (e.g., INTACH), or public interest litigations may challenge metro extension approvals, leading to stoppages, compensation costs, or redesigns. Administrative delays and uncertainty may arise.

Public trust erosion

If heritage norms are sidelined, public sentiment may sour. Residents and heritage lovers may feel that modernization is being forced at the expense of cultural identity. Trust in planning institutions and heritage agencies may erode.

Cost escalation and redesigning

Because heritage-sensitive designs often require specialized methods (vibration control, careful tunneling, monitoring), delays or mandated recalibration post-facto HIAs may inflate costs and timelines.

Best practices and international precedents

Pre-approval heritage assessment

In UNESCO heritage zones worldwide, HIAs or heritage assessments must precede project approvals. No structural work begins without completed baseline documentation and mitigation planning.

Comparative cases

• In Rome, infrastructure projects near heritage zones must undergo rigorous archaeological survey, vibration studies, and continuous monitoring.

• In Istanbul, metro works under historic districts are governed by heritage committees and continuous oversight.

• In Paris, new metro lines under old quarters require strict architectural review to preserve surface views and urban fabric.

Adaptive design, minimal intervention

Planners can adopt low-impact tunneling, micro-bore tunnels, underground utility shifts done sensitively, and align station entries outside core heritage precincts. Any interventions inside heritage zones should be reversible, monitored, and subjected to continuous heritage audits.

Transparent stakeholder consultation

Public consultation with heritage bodies, community groups, architects, archaeologists, and conservationists is critical. These voices can guide alignment, design, and mitigation.

Heritage mitigation and offsetting

Projects should include measures like façade restoration, documentation, relocation of threatened heritage elements, compensatory heritage enhancement, and ongoing monitoring.

Disclaimer
This article is based on public news reports and UNESCO’s State of Conservation documentation as of October 2025. Project status, heritage assessments, and official responses may evolve. Readers should refer to UNESCO reports, JMRC updates, and government publications for the most current and authoritative information.

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