Jaipur, April 8 Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Wednesday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Union Cabinet approved the Jaipur Metro Phase-2 project and cleared the revised cost of the Pachpadra refinery.
In a statement, Sharma said the approvals will give a major boost to the state's overall development.
He said the Jaipur Metro Phase-2 project envisages a 41-km north-south corridor from Prahladpura to Todi Mod, which will connect key industrial and residential areas from Sitapura to VKIA.
The chief minister said the corridor will act as a lifeline for Jaipur, providing safe and seamless urban transport and improving connectivity across major areas, including the airport, Tonk Road, SMS Hospital, Ambabari and Vidhyadhar Nagar.
According to officials, the project will have 36 stations and an estimated cost of Rs 13,037.66 crore. It will be implemented by Rajasthan Metro Rail Corporation Limited, a joint venture between the Centre and the state government with equal partnership.
Currently, Jaipur Metro operates on the 11.64-km east-west corridor from Mansarovar to Badi Chaupar with 11 stations. The Phase-2 expansion is expected to significantly enhance the city's metro network, reduce traffic congestion and improve urban mobility.
Sharma said the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has also approved the revised cost of Rs 79,459 crore for the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery at Pachpadra.
He said the refinery project will strengthen not only Rajasthan but also the country's energy security and accelerate industrial development in the state.
The chief minister added that the project is expected to generate employment opportunities for more than 25,000 people, both directly and indirectly, contributing to economic growth.