Prime Minister Laid the Foundation Stone of Several Projects worth about Rs 5000 crore in Jodhpur | Rajasthan | 07 Oct 2023

Why In News?

On October 5, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of several projects worth about Rs 5000 crore in sectors like roads, rail, aviation, health and higher education in Jodhpur, Rajasthan and dedicated them to the nation.

Key Points:

• These projects include a 350-bed 'Trauma Center and Critical Care Hospital Block' at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur and seven Critical Care Blocks to be developed under the Prime Minister-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) across Rajasthan. .
• An integrated center for 'Trauma, Emergency and Critical Care' will be developed at AIIMS Jodhpur at a cost of more than Rs 350 crore. It will include various facilities like triage, diagnostics, daycare wards, private rooms, modular operating theaters, ICU and dialysis rooms.
• It will bring a holistic approach in the management of trauma and emergency cases by providing multidisciplinary and comprehensive care to the patients.
• The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the development of a state-of-the-art new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport. The new terminal building, to be built at a total cost of Rs 480 crore, will be developed over an area of approximately 24,000 square meters and will be equipped to serve 2,500 passengers during peak hours.
• It will cater to 35 lakh passengers annually as well as improve connectivity and will boost tourism in the region.
• The Prime Minister dedicated the IIT Jodhpur campus to the nation. This state-of-the-art campus, built at a cost of over Rs 1135 crore, is a step towards providing high quality holistic education and creating infrastructure to support cutting-edge research and innovation initiatives.
• To upgrade the infrastructure at the Central University of Rajasthan, the Prime Minister dedicated to the nation the 'Central Equipment Laboratory', Staff Quarters and 'Yoga and Sports Science Building'.
• He laid the foundation stone of the Central Library, hostel with capacity of 600 students and dining hall facility for students in the Central University of Rajasthan.
• In a move to improve road infrastructure in Rajasthan, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for several road development projects including four-laning of Karwar to Dangiyawas section of Jodhpur Ring Road on NH-125A; Construction of seven bypasses of major urban parts of Balotra to Sanderao section via Jalore (NH-325); Laid the foundation stone of various projects including the project of four-laning of Pachpadra-Bagundi section of NH-25.
• These road projects will be built at a cumulative cost of approximately Rs 1475 crore. Jodhpur Ring Road will help in reducing traffic pressure and vehicle pollution in the city.
• All these projects will improve connectivity and boost trade in the region as well as create employment and help in economic growth.
• On this occasion, the Prime Minister flagged off two new train services in Rajasthan. These include a new train - Runicha Express connecting Jaisalmer to Delhi and a new heritage train connecting Marwar Junction to Kokhambli Ghat.
• Runicha Express will pass through Jodhpur, Degana, Kuchaman City, Phulera, Ringas, Shrimadhopur, Neem Ka Thana, Narnaul, Ateli, Rewari, improving connectivity of all cities with the national capital.
• The new heritage train connecting Marwar Jn-Khambli Ghat will boost tourism and generate employment in the region.