Jaipur, June 30 -- Rajasthan will undertake urban infrastructure projects worth nearly Rs.15,800 crore over the next five years under the Centre's Urban Challenge Fund (UCF), with roads, sewerage, drainage, solid waste management, street lighting and other civic amenities set for a major upgrade across urban local bodies, minister Jhabar Singh Kharra said on Monday. Announcing the initiative, urban development and local self-government minister Kharra said the ambitious programme would transform urban local bodies across the state by expanding roads, sewerage networks, drainage systems, solid waste management, street lighting, beautification works and other essential civic infrastructure in line with the rapid pace of urbanisation. Kharra said Rajasthan's cities are witnessing growing demand for quality infrastructure and public services, making it imperative to accelerate urban development at four times the existing pace. He said the Urban Challenge Fund would help the state build modern, sustainable and citizen-centric urban infrastructure while supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. As part of the initiative, the Directorate of Local Bodies (DLB) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), under which the central public sector undertaking will provide technical assistance in project planning, preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and mobilisation of financial resources for urban local bodies. Officials said the collaboration is expected to ensure professionally designed, time-bound and financially viable projects, improving the state's chances of securing funding under the competitive national scheme. A key feature of the urban challenge fund is its focus on Tier-II and Tier-III cities, enabling smaller urban centres to access modern civic infrastructure that has traditionally been concentrated in larger cities. Alongside the MoU signing, the state also organised a workshop for officials from urban local bodies on project formulation. The Centre has earmarked Rs. 1 lakh crore for the Urban Challenge Fund nationwide....