PM to launch Rs 1.06 lakh crore projects in Rajasthan, Gujarat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to undertake a high-profile whirlwind tour of Rajasthan and Gujarat on Saturday, during which he will dedicate and lay the foundation stones for massive development projects worth approximately Rs 1.06 lakh crore. The major highlights of the Prime Minister’s multi-state itinerary include the rollout of a mega aviation connectivity scheme, the inauguration of India’s premier greenfield refinery-cum-petrochemical complex, and a massive boost to the nation’s semiconductor ecosystem.
The Prime Minister will commence his visit in Rajasthan at Jodhpur around 10:45 am, where he is set to unveil the newly constructed Jodhpur Airport Terminal Building. Built at a cost of Rs 480 crore, the heritage-inspired, eco-friendly terminal is designed to manage 20 lakh passengers annually. On this occasion, he will launch the Modified UDAN scheme. Backed by a whopping 10-year allocation of Rs 28,840 crore, this revamped initiative intends to modernise 100 unserved airstrips and establish 200 high-tech helipads across difficult terrains, heavily prioritising indigenous aircraft like the HAL Dhruv and Dornier platforms.
Moving to Balotra later in the afternoon, the Prime Minister will dedicate India’s first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex at Pachpadra. Developed as a joint venture between HPCL and the Rajasthan Government with an investment exceeding Rs 79,450 crore, the state-of-the-art 9 MMTPA facility aims to significantly augment the country’s energy security and downstream plastic industries.
While in Balotra, Modi will also lay the foundation stone for the Rs 13,000-crore Phase 2 of the Jaipur Metro Rail Project, spanning a 41-km north-south corridor with 36 stations.
His developmental packet for the desert state further encompasses the Churu-Sadulpur and Churu-Ratangarh rail doubling projects, solar energy ventures in Bikaner by SJVN and NHPC totalling 1,300 MW, and power transmission infrastructure worth over Rs 1,900 crore. In a major employment push, the Prime Minister will also distribute appointment letters to nearly 54,000 youth recruited across various Rajasthan Government departments.
Later in the evening, the Prime Minister will travel to Sanand in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, to inaugurate the state-of-the-art CG SEMI Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility. Established under the India Semiconductor Mission with an investment of over Rs 7,500 crore, the facility boasts an ultimate capacity of manufacturing 5 billion chips annually to power AI, automotive, and 5G sectors, marking a seminal milestone in India’s quest for chip self-reliance.
