States » SouthPosted at: Nov 13 2026 2:31PM


PM Modi flags energy security amid West Asia conflict, launches Rs 15,000-cr projects

Bengaluru, Nov 13 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday underscored the critical importance of energy security amid geopolitical tensions around Iran and the Gulf region, saying India's investments in domestic fuel production, storage infrastructure and renewable energy over the past decade had strengthened its ability to withstand global disruptions.
"The conflict going on around Iran and the Gulf countries has shown how important energy security is. India too faced a challenging period, but the steps taken over the past decade towards energy security helped us face this crisis with strength," Modi said.
Addressing a gathering here after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for development projects worth more than Rs 15,000 crore in Karnataka, he said the initiatives relating to connectivity, railways and energy infrastructure would give fresh impetus to the state's development and strengthen Bengaluru's position as a technology and economic hub.
Listing the measures taken by the Centre to strengthen energy security, Modi said India had increased petrol, diesel and LPG production capacity, developed crude oil storage facilities, expanded solar, hydropower and wind energy, electrified almost the entire railway network and strengthened public transport systems such as Metro.
Highlighting three energy-related projects in Karnataka, he said they would provide fresh strength to India's energy security and improve the reliability of fuel supplies.
The Mangaluru LPG project would increase the country's storage capacity by 80,000 metric tonnes, while the Devanagundi marketing terminal would make the supply of petrol, diesel and aviation fuel more systematic and reliable, he said.
A compressed biogas (CBG) plant in Bengaluru would produce around 13 tonnes of biogas every day. "This will improve waste management and also save the money spent on importing natural gas," Modi said.
Emphasising that electricity production was another important dimension of energy security, he said India was moving towards leadership in emerging technologies, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence data centres and quantum computing, which required an adequate and reliable power supply.
"For this, the country must have sufficient electricity. Work is also progressing continuously in this direction," he said.
India's renewable energy capacity had crossed 300 GW, Modi said, adding that the country was also increasing the number of nuclear power plants as part of its efforts to achieve clean energy targets.
He said government initiatives were also enabling citizens to become electricity producers rather than remaining only consumers.
Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, more than 60 lakh households across the country had installed rooftop solar plants, including over 40,000 families in Karnataka. Each beneficiary had received around Rs 80,000 in central assistance, he said.
Similarly, more than eight lakh solar pumps were being used for irrigation in Karnataka under the PM-KUSUM scheme.
"Karnataka's farmers are now becoming energy providers as well," Modi said, adding that these initiatives were reducing electricity expenditure while creating new avenues for income and employment.
Turning to connectivity infrastructure, Modi said improved transport networks played a major role in economic growth, industrial expansion and employment generation, besides strengthening the fight against poverty.
He said nearly 50 crore Indians had moved out of extreme poverty over the past 12-13 years, attributing the progress to sustained development efforts and improved access to opportunities.
Earlier in the day, Modi inaugurated the 7.5-km elevated section of Bengaluru Metro's Pink Line between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere. With the addition of the new stretch, Bengaluru's operational Metro network has crossed 100 km.
The newly inaugurated section would improve connectivity to IIM Bengaluru and several educational institutions, besides linking important business, technology and commercial centres. It would benefit lakhs of commuters by saving travel time and money, he said.
Recalling former union Minister Ananth Kumar, Modi said Thursday was his death anniversary and that he had a special attachment to the region. He paid his tributes to the late leader.
Describing Bengaluru as India's Silicon Valley and a major engine of innovation and economic growth, Modi said the city accounted for more than one-third of the country's IT exports.
He said Namma Metro, which had a network of just 17 km in 2014, had expanded to more than 100 km. Bengaluru had become the third metropolitan region in the country, after Delhi-NCR and Mumbai, to achieve a Metro network exceeding 100 km.
"The success of Namma Metro is not limited to a single project. It reflects the country's new thinking on ease of living and ease of travel and its commitment to improving the lives of middle-class families," he said.
On railway infrastructure, Modi said India's railway budget had increased several times over the past decade, while Karnataka's railway allocation had risen ninefold during the period.
More than 60 railway stations in Karnataka had been developed under the Amrit Bharat Station scheme, he said, naming Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagaluru, Sakleshpur and Suryanagar Road among the stations that had received the upgraded facilities.
He said the state had recently received its first Vande Bharat sleeper train and that a new Vande Bharat service connecting Karnataka with Goa was also being launched.
The service would provide passengers from Bengaluru and the coastal region with a semi-high-speed rail travel experience, he added.
Modi also highlighted the expansion of India's middle class and the emergence of a new aspirational class whose growing purchasing power was generating demand across sectors such as automobiles, electronics, tourism and services.
The Centre was working to increase household savings and put more money in the hands of middle-class families, he said, citing the exemption of annual income up to Rs 12 lakh from income tax, changes in TDS provisions and GST reforms.
He also referred to the removal of GST on personal health and life insurance, saying the measures had made insurance more affordable.
"Our effort is to increase the savings of the middle class, strengthen its purchasing power and enable families to fulfil their dreams while also contributing to the country's economic progress," he said.
Modi said the projects launched in Karnataka would accelerate the state's development journey and contribute to the vision of a developed India through a developed Karnataka.
UNI BDN
Tags: #PM Modi flags energy security amid West Asia conflict# launches Rs 15#000-cr projects
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