During his day-long visit, the Prime Minister inaugurated the new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport, aimed at strengthening regional tourism, trade, and employment opportunities in the Marwar region. He subsequently dedicated the country’s most advanced Greenfield Refinery-cum-Petrochemical Complex to the nation in Pachpadra, located in Balotara district. A Greenfield refinery refers to an industrial processing facility for oil, gas, or minerals constructed entirely on undeveloped land.
At the refinery site, the Prime Minister inspected the state-of-the-art control room, interacted with engineers and technical experts, flagged off fuel tankers, and virtually laid the foundation stone for Phase II of the Jaipur Metro project. The Greenfield refinery is expected to significantly enhance industrial capacity and energy security.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister stated that the conflict in West Asia had triggered the most severe energy crisis of the 21st century. He said India successfully navigated the crisis through timely decisions, effective diplomacy, and prudent resource management. While many countries faced fuel shortages, India expanded its energy sourcing from approximately 25–26 countries to nearly 40 countries, ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply.
He added that India’s strong diplomatic relations across the world played a decisive role in maintaining energy stability. He further noted that India has significantly enhanced its refining capacity and has now emerged as the world’s fourth-largest refining nation.
The Prime Minister stated that the government prevented a steep rise in domestic liquefied petroleum gas prices despite global disruptions. He said that although international conditions could have pushed cylinder prices close to 2,000 rupees, effective intervention ensured continued availability at around 950 rupees per cylinder. He further highlighted that between April and June, oil marketing companies absorbed losses of nearly 75,000 crore rupees to shield citizens from global price shocks.
Mr. Modi stated that the government’s response during the energy crisis would be recorded as a significant chapter in history. He said that while misinformation and panic were being spread by some sections, government officials worked continuously with commitment and patience to ensure uninterrupted energy supply.
Referring to the global fertiliser crisis triggered by conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine, he said urea prices in several countries rose to nearly 3,000 rupees per bag, while India ensured availability to farmers at around 300 rupees per bag, protecting them from global inflationary pressure.
Describing the Pachpadra Refinery as a milestone in India’s journey toward becoming a developed and self-reliant nation, the Prime Minister said the project would generate large-scale employment and accelerate industrial development in western Rajasthan, creating new investment opportunities for youth.
Highlighting other initiatives, he said the newly inaugurated Jodhpur Airport terminal would enhance connectivity and regional growth. He also noted the launch of the modified UDAN scheme from Jodhpur, aimed at improving air connectivity to smaller towns and remote regions. He further stated that long-standing water challenges in Rajasthan’s Shekhawati region were nearing resolution, and reiterated the government’s focus on development under a “Nation First” approach. He also criticized the previous Congress administration for failing to address the state’s water issues effectively.
The Prime Minister also distributed appointment letters to approximately 54,000 youth recruited across various departments of the Government of Rajasthan, marking a major employment initiative during the visit.
The visit concluded with the announcement of large-scale infrastructure expansion, energy security reinforcement, and employment generation initiatives, reinforcing Rajasthan’s position as a key growth hub in India’s development trajectory.
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