Date: July 4, 2026
Balotra, Rajasthan: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 4, 2026, inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over ₹1.05 lakh crore in Rajasthan, giving a major boost to the state's infrastructure, energy, transport and industrial sectors.
During his visit, the Prime Minister inaugurated the new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport and dedicated the Pachpadra Greenfield Refinery-cum-Petrochemical Complex in Balotra district to the nation. He also inspected the refinery's advanced control room, interacted with engineers and technical experts, flagged off fuel tankers, and virtually laid the foundation stone for Jaipur Metro Phase-II.
Addressing a public gathering, Modi said the conflict in West Asia had triggered the largest energy crisis of the 21st century, but India successfully safeguarded its energy security through timely policy decisions, effective diplomacy and prudent resource management.
He said India expanded its crude oil sourcing from 25-26 countries to nearly 40 countries, ensuring uninterrupted fuel supplies despite global disruptions. He added that India has now emerged as the world's fourth-largest oil refining nation.
Highlighting the government's efforts to shield consumers from rising global energy prices, the Prime Minister said domestic LPG prices could have surged to nearly ₹2,000 per cylinder, but government intervention kept prices around ₹950. He also said oil marketing companies incurred losses of nearly ₹75,000 crore on petrol and diesel between April and June, with the government absorbing the burden to protect consumers.
Referring to the global fertiliser shortage caused by conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine, Modi said the government ensured that Indian farmers continued to receive urea at around ₹300 per bag, even as prices in several countries climbed to nearly ₹3,000 per bag.
Describing the Pachpadra Refinery as a landmark project in India's journey towards becoming a developed and self-reliant nation, the Prime Minister said the facility would create thousands of jobs, attract fresh investment and accelerate industrial development across western Rajasthan.
The projects launched during the visit are expected to significantly strengthen Rajasthan's energy infrastructure, logistics network and economic growth while generating large-scale employment opportunities in the state.
