PM lays Foundation Stone and dedicates Development Projects in Bikaner

• 10 Jul 2023

Why in News?

On July 8, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects worth more than Rs 24,300 crore in Bikaner, Rajasthan.

Key Points:

• The projects inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi include the six-lane Greenfield Expressway section of the Amritsar-Jamnagar Economic Corridor; Phase-I of the Inter-State Transmission Line of Green Energy Corridor Bhiwadi Transmission Line developed by Bikaner Power Grid and 30 bedded Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Hospital at Bikaner.
• The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation the six-lane Greenfield Expressway section of the Amritsar-Jamnagar Economic Corridor.
  • The over 500 km stretch, stretching from Jakrawali village in Hanumangarh district in Rajasthan to Khetlawas village in Jalore district, has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 11,125 crore.
  • The expressway will significantly reduce travel time and improve transport connectivity between major cities and industrial corridors.
  • The expressway will not only facilitate the seamless transportation of goods but also increase tourism and economic development on its route.
• Giving a boost to the power sector in the region, the Prime Minister dedicated Phase-I of the Inter-State Transmission Line for the Green Energy Corridor, which has been constructed at a cost of about Rs 10,950 crore.
  • The Green Energy Corridor will integrate about 6 GW of renewable energy and help in grid balancing of renewable energy with thermal power generation in the western region and Hydro-Power generation in the northern region, thereby strengthening the transmission capacity between the northern region and the western region.
• The Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation the Bikaner-Bhiwadi transmission line developed by the Power Grid at a cost of about Rs 1,340 crore. Bikaner to Bhiwadi transmission line will help in the evacuation of 8.1 GW of solar power in Rajasthan.
• The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation the new 30-bed Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Hospital in Bikaner. The capacity of the hospital will be eligible for expansion to 100 beds.
• In addition, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of Bikaner Railway Station. The redevelopment work, costing around Rs 450 crore, will involve the renovation of all platforms along with floors and ceilings while ensuring the preservation of the heritage status of the existing structure of the railway station.
• The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for doubling of the 43 km long Churu-Ratangarh rail section. The doubling of this railway line will enhance rail connectivity and facilitate the transportation of gypsum, limestone, food grains and fertilizer products from the Bikaner region to the rest of the country.