Jaipur, July 5 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the country's first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex at Pachpadra in Balotra district and laid the foundation stone for Jaipur Metro Phase-2, while unveiling development projects worth over Rs.1.5 lakh crore across the state. Developed as a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and the Rajasthan government, the 9 MMTPA (Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum) refinery-cum-petrochemical complex has been built at a cost of Rs.79,459 crore. Addressing the gathering, Modi described the refinery as a major milestone in India's journey towards self-reliance. "Our self-respect can remain high only when we are self-reliant. This refinery is a major step in that direction," he said, adding that the project would generate employment for thousands of young people and accelerate Rajasthan's industrial growth. Targeting previous Congress governments, Modi said double-engine governments not only lay foundation stones but also complete projects. He alleged that although the refinery project gained momentum after an MoU was signed in 2017, work remained virtually stalled between 2018 and 2023 due to the previous Congress government in Rajasthan. "As soon as the double-engine government came to power, work gained pace, and today the project has been dedicated to the nation," he said. Calling the refinery a significant achievement, Modi said India had continuously expanded its refining capacity while many developed nations had not. He claimed that no new refinery had been built in the United States in the past 50 years and that Europe's refining capacity had declined, while India had emerged as the country with the world's fourth-largest refining capacity. Referring to the fire at the Pachpadra refinery two months ago, the PM said the project's completion in such a short period reflected the dedication and hard work of those involved. During the event, Modi also laid the foundation stone for Jaipur Metro Phase-2, a 41-km north-south corridor connecting Prahladpura to Todi Mod at estimated cost of over Rs.13,370 crore. The corridor will have 36 stations and provide connectivity to major locations, including Sitapura Industrial Area, Vishwakarma Industrial Area (VKIA), Jaipur Airport, Tonk Road, SMS Hospital, Ambabari and Vidyadhar Nagar. An underground station will also be built near the airport. The project will be executed by the Rajasthan Metro Rail Corporation Limited, a joint venture between the Centre and the Rajasthan government. Earlier in the day, Modi inaugurated the new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport and launched the revised UDAN scheme aimed at strengthening regional air connectivity. Built at a cost of Rs.480 crore, the new terminal spans over 23,000 square metres and has an annual passenger handling capacity of two million. Designed with architecture inspired by Rajasthan's cultural heritage, the terminal incorporates energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable features. The government said the facility would boost tourism, trade and employment in western Rajasthan. The revised UDAN scheme has an allocation of Rs.28,840 crore for the next 10 years to expand regional air connectivity. It aims to develop 100 airports by reviving unused airstrips, establish 200 modern helipads in remote areas and continue viability gap funding of over Rs.10,000 crore to support regional airline operations. Addressing Rajasthan's long-standing water scarcity, Modi said the BJP government was committed to resolving the issue through inter-state cooperation. Recalling his tenure as Gujarat chief minister, he said Gujarat had shared Narmada water with Rajasthan and that the supply had already reached several villages. He announced that Rajasthan and Haryana would jointly implement a Rs.34,000-crore project to supply water to the Shekhawati region through a pipeline from the Hathinikund Barrage. The project is expected to benefit millions of people in Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Churu and adjoining districts. He also said Rajasthan would receive additional benefits after the completion of the Renuka, Lakhwar and Kishau dam projects in the Upper Yamuna basin. Modi said Rajasthan was emerging as a hub for clean energy. He said over 150,000 households in the state had been connected to rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, while more than 65,000 solar pumps had been installed under the PM Kusum scheme. He also highlighted the "Jal Sanchay, Jan Bhagidari" campaign, under which nearly 2.5 million soak pits have been constructed nationwide, including more than 125,000 in Rajasthan, to improve water conservation and groundwater recharge. The Prime Minister also distributed appointment letters to around 54,000 youth selected for government jobs in Rajasthan. Chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said the refinery would transform the state into a major industrial hub and strengthen India's economic development....