PM to Unveil ₹1.22 Lakh Crore Projects, Launch Rajasthan Nuclear Plant

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to electrify Rajasthan's Banswara district on Thursday with a powerhouse of development initiatives worth over ₹1.22 lakh crore, spotlighting the ambitious ₹45,000 crore Mahi-Banswara Nuclear Power Plant as the crown jewel of India's clean energy push. This high-stakes visit, timed to coincide with the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, underscores the government's laser focus on energy security, infrastructure upgrades, and job creation, promising to catapult the desert state into a renewable energy superpower.

At the heart of the agenda is the groundbreaking for the 2,800 MW Mahi-Banswara Nuclear Power Project, a collaborative venture between NTPC Ltd and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL). Featuring four 700 MWe pressurised heavy water reactors, the plant—strategically located near the Mahi Dam on the Rajasthan-Madhya Pradesh border—is poised to generate reliable, low-carbon power for millions. Officials project the first unit operational within six and a half years, slashing Rajasthan's dependence on fossil fuels and aligning with national goals for net-zero emissions by 2070. "This isn't just a power plant; it's a beacon of self-reliance, fueling economic growth and sustainable progress for generations," said BJP state president Madan Rathore, who hailed it as a "landmark for local tourism, employment, and industry."

The PM's itinerary brims with transformative launches across energy, water, transport, health, and urban sectors. In renewables, Modi will dedicate a 590 MW solar project in Bikaner (₹8,500 crore), high-voltage transmission lines spanning 15.5 GW across Jaisalmer, Barmer, Sirohi, Nagaur, and Bikaner (₹13,183 crore), and the 925 MW Nokh Solar Park in Phalodi. Adding to the green momentum, 1,400 MW of solar plants and 895 MW decentralised units under the PM-KUSUM scheme—empowering farmers with solar pumps for irrigation—will be inaugurated, potentially saving rural households thousands in energy costs annually. Modi is also slated to interact with PM-KUSUM beneficiaries, spotlighting stories of farmers who've slashed diesel use by up to 70%.

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Water warriors get a boost too: 15 new drinking water schemes across 11 districts like Banswara, Udaipur, Dungarpur, Sikar, and Ajmer (₹5,884 crore), enhancements at Isarda Dam and Dholpur Lift, plus a massive ₹20,833 crore water resources project to combat drought in arid zones. Infrastructure leaps include two flyovers, a Banas River bridge, 119 Atal Pragati Path roads in Bharatpur, seven roads in Barmer, Ajmer, Beawar, Dungarpur, Banswara, Rajsamand, and Udaipur, and three new grid substations in Bikaner and Jaisalmer.

Transport takes center stage with the flagging off of two Vande Bharat Express trains—Bikaner to Delhi Cantt and Jodhpur to Delhi Cantt—alongside the Udaipur-Chandigarh Express, slashing travel times and knitting Rajasthan tighter to northern economic hubs. In a youth empowerment milestone, 15,000 appointment letters will be distributed, injecting fresh talent into government departments and fueling a job surge in a state where unemployment hovers around 15%.

Spanning five states—Rajasthan (₹1.08 lakh crore share), Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka—these projects amplify Modi's vision of 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, who inspected the Napla venue site on Wednesday, directed flawless execution, emphasizing tribal inclusion in Banswara's development narrative. Preparations hit fever pitch: Rathore's door-to-door "yellow rice" invites evoked tribal traditions, drawing thousands to the event.

Yet, the pomp carries political undercurrents. Rathore jabbed at the erstwhile Congress regime under Ashok Gehlot for "misgovernance and political theatrics," crediting BJP's stewardship for this bounty. Gehlot fired back, urging Modi to address the "glacial probe" into the 2022 Kanhaiya Lal murder in Udaipur—still under NIA scrutiny—and elevate Mangarh Dham to national monument status, honoring tribal martyrs. As Banswara buzzes with anticipation, Modi's visit could redefine Rajasthan's trajectory, blending atomic ambition with grassroots revival in India's vibrant federal tapestry.

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