Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said measures taken over the past decade to strengthen India's energy security had helped the country withstand the crisis triggered by the ongoing war in West Asia.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating and launching development projects worth over Rs 15,600 crore across Karnataka, Modi said the conflict involving Iran and the Gulf region had demonstrated the importance of energy independence and reliable fuel supplies.
"This has also been a challenging period for India. However, the steps taken over the past decade to strengthen energy security have helped us face this crisis with confidence," the Prime Minister said.
He said the government had expanded production capacity for petrol, diesel and LPG, developed crude oil storage facilities, increased renewable energy generation and strengthened public transport infrastructure.
Modi also highlighted the expansion of solar, hydro and wind energy, alongside the near-complete electrification of Indian Railways, as measures that had reduced the country's vulnerability to external disruptions.
๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ท๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ ๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ผ๐๐
The Prime Minister said three major projects inaugurated or launched in Karnataka would further strengthen India's energy security.
The LPG project in Mangaluru will increase the country's storage capacity by 80,000 metric tonnes, while the Devangonthi Marketing Terminal at Dodda Dasarahalli in Bengaluru will improve the supply and distribution of petrol, diesel and aviation fuel.
A compressed biogas plant in Bengaluru will produce approximately 13 tonnes of biogas daily, contributing to improved waste management and reducing expenditure on imported natural gas.
Modi said India's renewable energy capacity had crossed 300 gigawatts and that the government was also expanding nuclear power generation to meet its clean energy objectives.
Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, more than 60 lakh families nationwide had installed rooftop solar systems, including over 40,000 households in Karnataka.
The Centre had provided financial assistance of approximately Rs 80,000 per family, he said.
Similarly, more than eight lakh solar pumps were supporting irrigation facilities for farmers in Karnataka under the PM-KUSUM scheme.
Modi said these initiatives were reducing electricity expenses while creating opportunities for additional income and employment.
๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฟ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐๐ฟ๐ผ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ธ๐บ
Highlighting Bengaluru's importance to India's technology sector, Modi said the city accounted for more than one-third of the country's IT exports and remained a major driver of innovation and economic growth.
The Prime Minister dedicated the Metro Pink Line to the public, saying it would improve connectivity and ease commuting across the city.
"With this vision, the central government is extending its support to the expansion of Namma Metro. In 2014, Namma Metro had a network of just 17 km. Today, its total network has expanded to more than 100 km. We are continuously scoring centuries," he said.
Modi said Bengaluru had become the third metropolitan region in the country, after Delhi-NCR and Mumbai Metropolitan Region, to achieve a Metro network exceeding 100 km.
He stressed that improved urban connectivity was essential for supporting Bengaluru's growing population, expanding economic activity and rising aspirations.
๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐น๐ฎ๐ด๐ด๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ณ๐ณ
The Prime Minister also flagged off a Vande Bharat service connecting Bengaluru with Madgaon via Mangaluru and announced that Karnataka had received its first Vande Bharat sleeper train.
"Indian Railways is now leaving behind the outdated mindset of the colonial era. The country's railways are creating a new legacy and heritage," Modi said.
He asserted that railway stations, locomotives and coaches were increasingly reflecting India's identity and technological capabilities.
"Vande Bharat trains and Amrit Bharat stations offer a glimpse of the railway services of a developed India," he added.
The Prime Minister said improvements in railway infrastructure and public transport were important components of the country's broader development strategy.
๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ต๐ป๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ด๐ถ๐ฒ๐
Modi said India was pursuing the ambition of becoming a global leader in emerging technologies, ranging from semiconductor manufacturing and shipbuilding to artificial intelligence data centres and quantum computing.
He emphasised that adequate and reliable electricity supplies would be crucial for supporting these industries and sustaining economic growth.
Referring to the government's commitment to 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', Modi said development initiatives undertaken since 2014 had contributed to the expansion of India's middle class.
He said rising aspirations and purchasing power were generating demand across several sectors, including automobiles, electronics, tourism and services.
"From automobiles to electronics, and from tourism to the services sector, new industries, factories and employment opportunities are emerging," he said.
The Prime Minister maintained that the growing middle class, particularly in economic centres such as Bengaluru, was becoming a major engine of national growth.
๐ง๐ฎ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐ณ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐บ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐น๐ฎ๐๐
Modi said the Centre was working to increase household savings, strengthen purchasing power and help middle-class families fulfil their aspirations while contributing to economic development.
He highlighted changes in tax deducted at source (TDS) provisions, saying they had provided relief to senior citizens and individuals earning rental income.
The Prime Minister also referred to the government's next-generation GST reforms, claiming they had reduced the prices of everyday goods.
He said the removal of GST on personal health and life insurance had made insurance more affordable for households.
Modi maintained that infrastructure development, energy security and measures to improve household finances were interconnected priorities in India's journey towards becoming a developed nation.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister also praised Karnataka Governor Sudha Yadav for her service to the nation as the widow of a Kargil war hero.