PM Modi inaugurates ₹11,200-crore Noida airport, calls it a game
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated Phase I of the Noida International Airport, built at a cost of around ₹11,200 crore, describing it as a major boost to Uttar Pradesh’s development and India’s aviation ambitions. He said the project marks a new chapter in the “Viksit UP, Viksit Bharat” vision, noting that the state has emerged among those with the highest number of international airports in the country.
The Prime Minister underlined that airports are not merely infrastructure assets but drivers of economic growth, adding that the Jewar airport will benefit a wide belt including Agra, Mathura, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Etawah, Bulandshahr and Faridabad by opening new opportunities for farmers, small businesses and youth.
Highlighting recent infrastructure strides in western Uttar Pradesh, PMModi pointed to developments such as the semiconductor facility in Noida, the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat, and metro expansion in Meerut, calling the region a growing economic engine. He also linked the airport’s emergence to long-pending plans first approved under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, adding that improved multimodal connectivity, including freight corridors converging at Dadri, will enhance exports and attract investment.
Thanking farmers for land contributions, he said better connectivity would boost food processing and help agricultural produce reach global markets more efficiently.
Referring to the ongoing crisis in West Asia, PM Modi said global tensions have disrupted supplies of key commodities such as fuel and fertilisers, noting India’s dependence on imports from the region. He assured that the government is taking steps to shield citizens and farmers from the impact. At the same time, he highlighted India’s ethanol blending push, crediting sugarcane farmers for reducing crude oil dependence and saving foreign exchange, while improving their own financial conditions.
The Prime Minister emphasised the rapid expansion of India’s aviation ecosystem, stating that the country now has over 160 airports, with connectivity extending beyond metros to smaller cities. He cited the UDAN scheme’s role in making air travel affordable, with over 1.6 crore passengers benefiting, and announced further expansion plans including 100 new airports and 200 helipads.
Prime Minister Modi also addressed gaps in the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) sector, noting that most Indian aircraft still go abroad for servicing, and said a new MRO facility at Jewar would create jobs and retain revenue domestically.
Reiterating the government’s focus on infrastructure-led growth, PM Modi said investments have increased significantly over the past decade, spanning highways, railways, ports and inland waterways.
He called for unity and patience in dealing with global challenges, asserting that national interest remains the guiding principle of government policy.
