PM Unveils Development Projects in Rajasthan

• 19 Feb 2024

Why in News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth over Rs 17,000 crore via video conferencing in Rajasthan.

Key Points

• The announcement came as a part of the 'Viksit Bharat Viksit Rajasthan' programme and encompassed crucial sectors, including roads, railways, solar energy, power transmission, drinking water, and petroleum & natural gas.
• The PM emphasized the significance of the development projects and stressed the importance of rapid development in essential sectors such as rail, road, electricity, and water for the progress of Rajasthan.
• He highlighted the substantial allocation of Rs 11 trillion in 2024 Union Budget for infrastructure development.
• Infrastructure in Rajasthan:
  • For highway infrastructure development,various national highway projects worth over Rs 5,000 crore were inaugurated.
    • This will improve connectivity in Kota, Udaipur, Tonk, Sawai Madhopur, Boondi, Ajmer, Bhilwara and Chittorgarh.
    • These roads will also ensure better connectivity with Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
  • For railways, PM laid the foundation stone for eight projects worth approximately Rs 2,300 crore.
  • He dedicated the power transmission sector projects worth more than Rs 2,100 crore, in Rajasthan, to the nation.
  • He also outlined the PM Surya Ghar Yojna's aim to provide free electricity and facilitate solar panel installations in households, particularly benefiting the middle and lower-middle-class segments.
  • The PM also laid the foundation stone for multiple projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), worth around Rs 2,400 crore.

PM Surya Ghar Yojna

• It is a pioneering government initiative aimed at installing rooftop solar power systems in one crore households across the nation.
• Rooftop solar panels are photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of a building that is connected to the main power supply unit.
• It reduces the consumption of grid-connected electricity and saves electricity costs for the consumer.
  • Surplus solar power units generated from the rooftop solar plant can be exported to the grid as per the metering provisions.
  • The consumer can receive monetary benefits for the surplus exported power as per the prevailing regulations