PM Modi inaugurates Noida International Airport at Jewar, calls it a catalyst for western UP’s Growth

Noida, March 28. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 28 inaugurated the Noida International Airport at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh, describing the project as a milestone in the ‘Viksit UP, Viksit Bharat’ (Developed Uttar Pradesh, Developed India) mission and a major boost to connectivity and economic opportunity in western Uttar Pradesh.

Expressing pride at both laying the foundation stone and now inaugurating the airport, the Prime Minister said the facility symbolises Uttar Pradesh’s rising stature in India’s aviation landscape. He noted that the state, India’s most populous, now counts among those with the highest number of international airports.

Highlighting the airport’s regional impact, Modi said it would benefit districts such as Agra, Mathura, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Etawah, Bulandshahr and Faridabad by opening new avenues for farmers, small businesses and young people. He said the airport would connect western UP directly to global markets while becoming a symbol of a rapidly developing state.

Referring to the ongoing conflict in West Asia and the resulting strain on supplies of fuel, food and fertilisers, the Prime Minister said the government was taking steps to ensure that the burden of global disruptions does not fall on ordinary citizens and farmers, especially given India’s dependence on energy imports from the region.

Modi pointed out that the airport inauguration comes amid a series of major infrastructure developments in western Uttar Pradesh. In recent weeks, the foundation stone for a semiconductor plant in Noida was laid, the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat Corridor gained momentum, and the Meerut Metro network was expanded.

Recalling the project’s origins, Modi said the Jewar airport proposal was first approved in 2003 under then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and construction accelerated after the current government came to power.

He also underlined the region’s emergence as a logistics hub, noting that the convergence of the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors at Dadri, along with the new airport, would enable goods produced in the region to reach domestic and global markets swiftly through multi-modal connectivity.

The Prime Minister thanked farmers who parted with land for the project and said improved connectivity would boost food processing and agricultural exports from the region. He also highlighted the contribution of sugarcane farmers in producing ethanol, which has reduced India’s crude oil imports and saved significant foreign exchange, while improving farmers’ incomes.

Stressing that airports act as engines of development rather than mere amenities, Modi said India now has over 160 airports, with air travel increasingly accessible to smaller towns. He noted that Uttar Pradesh now has 17 airports and credited the government’s UDAN scheme for enabling affordable air travel to more than 1.6 crore passengers. He added that the Centre has recently approved an expanded UDAN plan worth nearly ₹29,000 crore ($3.13 billion) to build 100 new airports and 200 helipads across smaller cities.

Modi also addressed the growing demand for aviation professionals as airlines place orders for hundreds of new aircraft, saying the government is expanding aviation training facilities. Drawing attention to India’s dependence on overseas maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, he announced that the foundation stone for an MRO facility was also laid at Jewar, which will serve both Indian and foreign aircraft and generate employment.

The Prime Minister cited the success of modern rail systems such as the Namo Bharat service, which has carried over 2.5 crore passengers and significantly reduced travel time between Delhi and Meerut.

Detailing broader infrastructure achievements over the past decade, Modi said the infrastructure budget has increased more than six-fold, with massive investments in highways, railway electrification, ports and inland waterways. He noted that nearly the entire broad-gauge railway network is now electrified and that rail connectivity is expanding into previously unconnected regions such as Kashmir and the Northeast.

Calling for unity amid global uncertainties, Modi said he had discussed the international situation with Parliament and chief ministers and urged citizens to remain calm and patient. He expressed confidence that all political parties would support national efforts to navigate the challenges while keeping India’s interests paramount.