Dedicates doubling of 145 km long Degana-Rai Ka Bagh rail line and the 58 km long Degana-Kuchaman City rail line

Flags off Runicha Express connecting Jaisalmer to Delhi and new heritage train connecting Marwar Jn. - Khambli Ghat

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation, multiple projects in sectors like road, rail, aviation, health and higher education worth about Rs 5000 crores in Jodhpur, Rajasthan today. The projects include laying the foundation stone for a 350-bed Trauma Centre and Critical Care Hospital Block at AIIMS, Jodhpur, 7 Critical Care Blocks under PM-ABHIM, and the development of New Terminal Building at Jodhpur Airport. He dedicated IIT Jodhpur campus, and infrastructure upgrades to the Central University of Rajasthan. He also laid the foundation stone of multiple road development projects and dedicated two other rail projects including the doubling of the 145 km long Degana-Rai Ka Bagh, and the 58 km long Degana-Kuchaman City rail lines. Shri Modi flagged off two new train services in Rajasthan namely Runicha Express - connecting Jaisalmer to Delhi and a new heritage train connecting Marwar Jn. - Khambli Ghat.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister bowed and paid homage to the land of Veer Durgadas & underlined that the results of the constant efforts by the government can be witnessed and experienced with the projects of today and congratulated the people of Rajasthan for the same. 

He said that Rajasthan is a state where the glory of ancient India is visible in the country’s valour, prosperity and culture. He also recalled a highly acclaimed G20 meeting in Jodhpur recently & underlined the attraction of Suncity Jodhpur for both local and international tourists. “It is important that Rajasthan, which represents India’s past glory should represent India's future as well. This will happen only when, from Mewar to Marwar, the entire Rajasthan scale new heights of development and modern infrastructure is built here”, the Prime Minister said.  

He mentioned that Jamnagar Expressway passing through Bikaner and Barmer, and Delhi Mumbai Expressway are examples of hitech infrastructure in Rajasthan. 

He informed that this year about Rs 9500 crore budget has been allocated for railways in Rajasthan which is a 14-fold increase over the average budget of previous governments & pointed out that approximately only 600 km of rail lines were electrified in Rajasthan since independence till 2014 but the present government has already electrified more than 3700 km in the last 9 years. “Now, electric trains will run on these tracks instead of diesel engine trains”, the Prime Minister said as he noted that it will help in reducing pollution and keeping the air clean in the state. Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, the Prime Minister said, more than 80 railway stations in Rajasthan are being redeveloped. He reiterated the government’s commitment to redeveloping railway stations which are frequented by the poor just like the development of airports in the country. He mentioned laying the foundation stone for the redevelopment of Jodhpur Railway Station. The rail and road projects of today will give momentum to the pace of development in the state & mentioned the reduction in the traveling time of trains due to the doubling of rail lines and noted flagging off of Runicha Express - connecting Jaisalmer to Delhi, and a new heritage train connecting Marwar Jn. - Khambli Ghat today, and the Vande Bharat Express a few days ago. He also touched upon laying the foundation stone for 3 road projects today as well as the development of New Terminal Building at Jodhpur Airport. Shri Modi underlined that the projects of today will give impetus to strengthen the regional economy as well as create new employment opportunities, while also giving new energy to the tourism sector in the state. 

Remembering the special place of Rajasthan in medical and engineering education, the Prime Minister mentioned the contribution of Kota and said that the effort is that along with education, Rajasthan becomes a hub of medical and engineering. For this ‘Trauma, Emergency and Critical Care’ facilities are being developed at AIIMS Jodhpur and seven Critical Care Blocks under Pradhan Mantri – Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) are being developed across Rajasthan. “I take great pleasure in seeing AIIMS Jodhpur and IIT Jodhpur among the premier institutes of the country, not just of Rajasthan”, he said. “AIIMS and IIT Jodhpur have together started work on new possibilities in the field of medical technology. Hi-tech medical technology like robotic surgery will give India new heights in the field of research and industry. This will also promote medical tourism”, he added. 

“Rajasthan is the land of those who love nature and the environment”, the Prime Minister said as he highlighted the communities of Guru Jambeshwar and Bishnoi who have lived this lifestyle for centuries and are followed by the world. “Based on this heritage, India is guiding the whole world today”, the Prime Minister said. He concluded by expressing confidence towards the government’s efforts to make India a developed nation and said that India will develop only with the development of Rajasthan. “Together we have to develop Rajasthan and make it prosperous”, Shri Modi concluded. 

Governor of Rajasthan, Shri Kalraj Mishra, and Union Ministers, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Kailash Choudhary were present on the occasion among others. 

Source- PIB