Pachpadra (Rajasthan) | Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday dedicated the country's first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex to the nation at Pachpadra in Rajasthan's Balotra district, describing it as a landmark achievement for India's energy and petrochemical sector.
Modi inaugurated the project by pressing a remote button after touring the refinery complex.
The state-of-the-art refinery integrates refining and petrochemical production, with a petrochemical capacity of 2.4 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA). It features a high Nelson Complexity Index of 17.0 and petrochemical yields of over 26 per cent, in line with global benchmarks for efficiency and sustainability.
The project is expected to strengthen India's energy security, enhancing petrochemical self-sufficiency, and driving industrial growth. It will also anchor the development of a Petrochemical and Plastic Park in the region, promoting downstream industries and ancillary sectors while generating significant employment opportunities.
The prime minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for several development projects spanning urban transport, railways, roads, renewable energy and power transmission.
Among them, Modi laid the foundation stone for Phase 2 of the Jaipur Metro Rail Project, which entails an investment of more than Rs 13,000 crore.
The project will develop a 41-km north-south metro corridor from Prahladpura to Todi Mod, connecting the Sitapura Industrial Area and Vishwakarma Industrial Area (VKI) through 36 stations.
The corridor will provide seamless connectivity to key locations, including Sitapura Industrial Area, VKI, Jaipur Airport, Tonk Road, SMS Hospital, SMS Stadium, Ambabari, and Vidyadhar Nagar. Phase 1 of the Jaipur Metro, comprising an 11.64-km corridor with 11 stations is already operational.
Modi also inaugurated the Churu-“Sadulpur (58 km) and Churu-“Ratangarh (46 km) rail doubling projects, which will strengthen rail connectivity in north-west Rajasthan, the four-laning of NH-125A, Jodhpur Ring Road Section-2 (Karwar-“Dangiyawas), SJVN Limited's 1,000 MW Bikaner solar energy project, NHPC's 300 MW Karnisar Bikaner solar energy plant, and a transmission line constructed for power evacuation from the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).
The prime minister also handed over appointment letters to youths recruited in various departments of the Rajasthan government.
Governor Haribhau Bagade, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, and Chief Minister Bhajnlal Sharma were also present on the occasion.