Jaipur: Rajasthan Housing Board’s (RHB) Rs 30-crore Club 21 in Pratap Nagar has remained shut since 2024, leaving around 1,000 members who paid Rs 3 lakh each preparing to take legal action. The impasse has also raised questions over RHB’s foray into non-core projects, coming after its Rs 300-crore coaching hub failed to take off.
File photo of NRI colony which was developed by Housing Board at Pratap Nagar in Jaipur.
The club in Sector 26 was developed as a premium social and recreational facility for residents of the expanding township.Members said they had waited nearly two years for Board to reopen the facility but have now begun preparing to approach court. Anmol Devanda, a member and advocate, said a group of members had formed a committee to pursue legal action.“We have been waiting for RHB to find a way to reopen the club. Now we are planning to move court. Our appeal is simple, either reopen the club or return the membership fees with interest. It is a waste of public money if the club remains closed,” Devanda said.Senior RHB officials cited three reasons for the shutdown: the club has run out of funds, fresh memberships cannot be monetised due to a High Court stay, and Board lacks the expertise to operate such a facility.“We have already selected around 3,500 members but could not collect membership fees from most of them following the High Court stay. Although the club operated for some time, the bar and restaurant vendor suddenly stopped operations citing poor footfall. Frankly, RHB does not have the expertise, manpower or time to run the facility or find new vendors,” an official said.Housing commissioner Arvind Kumar Poswal told TOI that the club would be reopened within two to three months.“We have already figured out what needs to be done. The most important issue is funds. RHB will soon take a loan and transfer it to the club’s account,” Poswal said.
