Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated, dedicated, and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth approximately ₹1.06 lakh crore in Rajasthan, covering sectors such as petrochemicals, transport, railways, roads, renewable energy, aviation, and power infrastructure.

A major highlight of the visit was the dedication of India’s first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex at Pachpadra in Balotra. Developed as a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and the Government of Rajasthan, the 9 MMTPA refinery-cum-petrochemical complex has been established with an investment of more than ₹79,450 crore. The project is expected to strengthen India's energy security while boosting domestic petrochemical production.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for Jaipur Metro Phase 2, a project valued at over ₹13,000 crore. The new 41-kilometre north-south metro corridor will connect Prahladpura to Todi Mod through 36 stations, linking key industrial and residential areas, including Sitapura and Vishwakarma Industrial Area (VKI).

Further strengthening Rajasthan’s transport infrastructure, Mr. Modi dedicated the Churu–Sadulpur and Churu–Ratangarh rail doubling projects along with the four-laning of National Highway-125A and Jodhpur Ring Road Section-2.

In the renewable energy sector, the Prime Minister dedicated SJVN Limited’s 1,000 MW Bikaner Solar Energy Project and inaugurated a power transmission line built at a cost of over ₹1,900 crore for evacuating renewable energy from the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). He also laid the foundation stone for a 530-kilometre transmission system to support future renewable energy projects in the state.

During the event, Mr. Modi handed over appointment letters to around 54,000 newly recruited youth across various departments of the Rajasthan Government.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister inaugurated the new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport, developed at a cost of ₹480 crore. Spread across more than 23,000 square metres, the terminal is designed to handle up to 20 lakh passengers annually and features modern passenger facilities. Inspired by Rajasthan’s royal architecture, the terminal blends traditional elements such as arches and jharokhas with contemporary design. The new facility is expected to boost tourism, trade, and employment across the Marwar region.

The Prime Minister also launched the Modified UDAN Scheme, aimed at strengthening regional air connectivity over the next decade. With an allocation of ₹28,840 crore, the revamped scheme seeks to expand aviation infrastructure and improve connectivity to underserved regions under the vision of Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik.

Separately, Mr. Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the CG Semi Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility at Sanand, Gujarat, under the India Semiconductor Mission. Developed with an investment of over ₹7,500 crore, the facility will have an annual production capacity of up to 5 billion semiconductor chips once fully operational.

The semiconductor facility currently employs more than 300 professionals and is expected to generate over 5,000 direct and indirect high-skilled jobs over the next five years. During his visit, the Prime Minister will inspect semiconductor manufacturing and packaging operations before addressing a public gathering.

Speaking at the Rajasthan event, Mr. Modi said that New India continues to move forward with determination regardless of the scale of challenges. He added that the new airport terminal in Jodhpur and the infrastructure projects launched during the visit would strengthen tourism, industry, employment, and economic growth across the region.

EkoStay has expanded its premium private villa portfolio across Maharashtra and Karnataka, introducing a range of new boutique stays ahead of the monsoon travel season. The latest additions strengthen the brand's presence in some of India's most sought-after drive-to leisure destinations and nature-focused getaway locations.

The newly launched and recently added properties include Vana Mora in Nashik, Wada Crest in Wada, Casa Elara in Igatpuri, Casa Bella in Lonavala, and Forest Cube Villa in Chikmagalur. The expansion reflects EkoStay's focus on offering design-led private stays that combine comfort, privacy, and immersive experiences close to nature.

Each property offers a unique stay experience. Wada Crest is a 3BHK villa designed for wellness retreats and intimate group getaways, featuring a private pool and spacious outdoor areas. Casa Elara in Igatpuri offers a luxury 5BHK experience surrounded by mountain views, while Casa Bella in Lonavala is a large-format villa spread across a 10,000 sq. ft. garden, making it ideal for celebrations and group stays.

In Karnataka, Forest Cube Villa marks EkoStay's growing presence in South India's experiential travel market. Located amidst the coffee plantations of Chikmagalur, the villa blends contemporary design with a peaceful forest setting, offering guests a relaxing nature-inspired escape.

The expansion comes as more travellers opt for private villas, nature stays, and short driveable holidays instead of traditional hotel stays, especially during the monsoon season.

Speaking about the expansion, Varun Arora, CEO & Co-Founder, EkoStay, said, "Over the last few years, we have seen a very visible shift in the way people travel, especially during monsoon and short leisure breaks. Travellers today are looking for experiences that feel more private, immersive and emotionally connected to the destination itself rather than simply transactional stays. Maharashtra and Karnataka continue to emerge as very strong leisure markets because they offer accessibility, natural beauty and year-round travel demand, especially from urban audiences looking for quick but meaningful escapes.

"With properties like Casa Bella, Casa Elara, Wada Crest and Forest Cube, our focus has been on creating hospitality experiences that combine comfort, design, privacy and a strong sense of place. Every property has its own personality, whether it is a forest-facing retreat, a luxury celebration villa or a peaceful countryside escape. As a brand, we are consciously building a portfolio that feels experiential rather than standardised."

Husain Khatumdi, Managing Director & Co-Founder, added, "The demand for professionally managed private villas has evolved tremendously in recent years. Guests today are not only seeking luxury, but also reliability, operational consistency and curated hospitality experiences. Our expansion strategy is focused on identifying destinations that have strong long-term leisure potential and building a high-quality villa ecosystem around them. We believe the future of hospitality lies in highly personalised stay experiences that still maintain strong operational standards."

Commenting on operations, Sohail Mirchandani, COO & Co-Founder, said, "As we continue expanding across multiple destinations, a strong operational backbone becomes extremely important. We have been heavily investing in standardisation, SOP-led execution, guest servicing systems and internal operational processes to ensure that the experience remains consistent across every EkoStay property. Scaling boutique hospitality successfully requires both emotional hospitality and strong backend systems working together."

Speaking about the company's destination strategy, Zishan Khan said, "One of our biggest focus areas has been identifying destinations and properties that have strong experiential value and long-term hospitality relevance. Whether it is a misty coffee estate in Chikmagalur, a scenic villa in Igatpuri or a luxury celebration property in Lonavala, we look at how travellers emotionally connect with a destination. Beyond acquiring inventory, our larger vision is to build highly curated villa clusters that deliver memorable stay experiences while also helping homeowners professionally monetise their properties."

ITC Hotels recently hosted an exclusive evening celebrating Indian classical music under its WelcomArt initiative, featuring Grammy Award-winning maestro Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt in collaboration with the Prabha Khaitan Foundation.

Held at ITC Maurya in New Delhi, the event brought together patrons of art, culture, media, and hospitality for an intimate musical showcase that highlighted India's rich classical music traditions.

WelcomArt is ITC Hotels' cultural initiative aimed at promoting India's artistic heritage through curated experiences spanning music, literature, visual arts, and traditional crafts. The programme provides a platform for renowned artists while offering guests immersive cultural experiences.

Speaking on the occasion, Anil Chadha, Managing Director, ITC Hotels Limited, said Indian classical music represents centuries of cultural tradition and creative expression. He added that WelcomArt seeks to bring audiences closer to India's diverse art forms while celebrating the contributions of maestros whose work continues to inspire generations.

Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt is internationally recognised as the creator of the Mohan Veena, an instrument developed by adapting the Western archtop guitar to the traditions of Hindustani classical music. His pioneering work has earned him global acclaim, including a Grammy Award, and has helped introduce Indian classical music to audiences around the world.

Commenting on the evening, Amaan R. Kidwai, Area Manager – Luxury Hotels (North) and General Manager, ITC Maurya, said the performance created an atmosphere of reflection and appreciation, bringing together discerning audiences through music, conversation, and shared cultural experiences. He noted that the event reflected WelcomArt's vision of fostering deeper engagement with India's artistic legacy.

Through initiatives such as WelcomArt, ITC Hotels continues to create platforms that celebrate India's cultural heritage while strengthening the connection between hospitality and the arts.