As Indian cities race towards smarter, more sustainable futures, Sagar Smart City Limited stands at the forefront of innovation and urban transformation. At the helm is Rajkumar Khatri, whose vision and leadership are steering the city through a pivotal era of digital integration and community-focused development. In this exclusive Interview with Veloxx Media Rajkumar Khatri, IAS, CEO, Sagar Smart City Limited shares insights into his journey, the challenges of urban modernization, and his aspirations for Sagar’s future.
Below are the given edited excerpts:
1. Can you provide a brief overview of the Sagar Smart City project and its key objectives and What have been the major milestones achieved under your leadership?
Sagar Smart City is envisioned as a harmonious blend of tradition and technology—preserving its rich cultural heritage while transforming into a modern, resilient urban space.
The Key objectives:
- Improve urban infrastructure,
- Enable efficient governance through technology,
- Foster inclusive growth
- Revive the Heritage and Cultural Identity of the Sagar City
- Promote sustainability and behavioral transformation among citizens.
Key milestones under my leadership include:
- Rejuvenation of Lakha Banjara Lake — reconnecting the soul of Sagar with a waterbody that holds generations of memories and significance for its people (Lakha Banjara Lake is an 800- year-old manmade irrigation Lake) And also, Lakefront Development which combines environmental conservation with cultural storytelling through Development of Religious Ghats and Evening Cultural Activities, Art, Public open-Spaces with seating Areas and peripheral walkways and Dynamic musical fountains and Water screen with Sagar History Storyline.
- Execution of Smart Road Projects, including underground utilities, intelligent lighting, and walkable footpaths, ensuring both convenience and aesthetics in Heritage and New grown city areas.
- Women-centric projects like She Lounges, Working Women’s Hostels, and Rain Baseras, designed with safety, accessibility, and cultural sensitivity in mind.
- Redevelopment of heritage sites in the City Area to enhance accessibility and revive their historic character and cultural identity.
2. What are some of the flagship infrastructure projects currently underway and How is technology being integrated into urban planning and governance in Sagar Smart City?
As previously discussed, the Rejuvenation of Lakha Banjara Lake stands as the flagship project under Sagar Smart City. However, we can also spotlight a few other key flagship initiatives such as:
- Organizing a Ganga Aarti accompanied by evening cultural events is a thoughtful initiative designed to draw both the citizens of Sagar and visiting tourists.
This activity serves as a dual-purpose event – The serene Ganga Aarti, with its chants, lamps, and rituals, offers a captivating cultural experience for tourists, while adding traditional dance, music, or storytelling enhances the event and engages locals.
o By participating in or simply enjoying these cultural gatherings, the people of Sagar can celebrate their heritage while strengthening social bonds. Additionally, these events serve as a platform for local artists and performers to showcase their talents, further enriching the cultural landscape of the city.
- Redevelopment of heritage Sites and to enhance accessibility and revive their historic character and cultural identity.
- Indoor sports infrastructure and recreational zones in Each Wards, aligned with youth engagement and healthy lifestyle promotion.
- Construction of a Lakeside Flyover to seamlessly connect the modern city with the historic heritage core
Technology Integration:
- Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS) for smoother traffic flow and better commuter experience.
- Smart classrooms and digital libraries in government schools, focusing on holistic learning and digital inclusion.
- The GIS-enabled Property Tax Management System – It is not only streamlining tax administration but also aids in identifying actual property boundaries and addressing encroachments, particularly around heritage and culturally significant public sites.
- IoT-enabled public services – like smart lighting, solid waste Vehicle Tracking to improve responsiveness.
- Use of City surveillance and public safety solutions, especially in areas with high footfall and cultural relevance.
3. What initiatives are in place to promote sustainability and environmental conservation and How is Sagar Smart City addressing challenges related to waste management and water conservation?
Sagar Smart City’s sustainability vision is deeply rooted in reviving natural ecosystems, maximizing underutilized spaces, and encouraging community-driven behavioral change, while respecting the city’s rich cultural landscape.
Key initiatives include:
- At the heart of Sagar’s key environmental project is Lakha Banjara Lake Project – a transformative initiative to restore the ecological balance of the lake while celebrating its historical and cultural significance.
o Desilting and eco-restoration to improve water holding capacity and biodiversity.
o Ritual tanks near to the Religious Places and Ghats to manage the Waste Management.
· Storm Water Drainage Project to tackle urban flooding and waterlogging
o Redesign of major drains to enable natural filtration and improve percolation.
o Focus on community awareness—residents are educated about not dumping waste in drains, reinforced through signage, school campaigns, and ward-level capacity building Activities.
- Restoration of Heritage Kua and Bawdi’s – Heritage-sensitive areas have been carefully restructured without disturbing the built fabric, respecting traditional water flows and stepwells.
- Utilization of Unutilized City Areas – Sagar has turned unused and neglected areas into community assets with sustainability at the core.
o Transformation of vacant lands into urban plaza, mini-parks, and open gyms— encouraging a shift toward active and mindful lifestyles.
o Wall art, vertical gardens, and community gardens developed through citizen participation, especially involving school children and local artists.
- Plantation Drives: Massive plantation campaigns are a cornerstone of behavior change.
- Installation of 1MW Solar plant – The city is steadily shifting toward clean energy
- Energy-Efficient Smart Lighting to reduce energy use and enhance safety.
These initiatives reflect a behavioral shift—where people are not just beneficiaries but active participants in sustainability, inspired by the city’s legacy and hopeful about its smart future.
4. How do you ensure active participation of citizens in shaping the smart city initiatives and What digital solutions have been implemented to improve governance and service delivery?
Citizen participation is not just encouraged—it’s institutionalized.
- City Level Heritage walks among Various groups
- Cycling Camping for various Environmental Activities
- QR-code based feedback systems in public amenities (toilets, She Lounges, etc.)
- Regular meeting with City Level Advisory Forum
- Regular Project Awareness Camping and City level Programs
Digital Governance Solutions:
- Integrated Command and Control Center (ICCC) monitoring traffic, waste, emergency response, and city infrastructure in real time.
- Portal for grievance redressal, utility payments, and public updates.
- Dashboards displaying real-time citizen satisfaction indexes, driving departments toward service excellence.5. What is your vision for Sagar Smart City in the next five years?
In the next five years, I envision Sagar Smart City as:
- A model for culturally rooted urban innovation, where technology respects tradition, and progress is people-centered.
- SSCL has developed Samvidhan Chowk in Sagar, marking the first of its kind in Madhya Pradesh. This initiative aims to foster a sense of civic responsibility and awareness among the public Through this landmark project, SSCL seeks to inspire individuals to understand and respect the principles of rule of law, contributing to a more informed and law-abiding community.
- A sustainability-first city, with zero open defecation, clean water for all, and a green transport backbone.
- A place where every citizen feels connected, safe, and proud – especially women, the elderly, youth, and the underserved.
- A vibrant Live heritage city where lakes, temples, ghats, and historic places and markets are seamlessly woven into the fabric of modern life – shaping not just our memories, but our future identity.
- A city where behavior change is embedded in daily life – how we segregate waste, respect public spaces, use public transport, and embrace digital services.
