Modi Opens Noida International Airport Phase I, Boosting Growth

Narendra Modi inaugurated Phase I of the Noida International Airport, highlighting it as a key driver of economic growth, regional development, and aviation expansion. He said the project will boost connectivity, support farmers and businesses, and strengthen India’s infrastructure, while also addressing global supply challenges and promoting initiatives like ethanol blending.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated Phase I of the Noida International Airport, a project built at a cost of about ₹11,200 crore. He described it as a major boost to Uttar Pradesh’s development and India’s aviation ambitions, adding that it marks a new chapter in the “Viksit UP, Viksit Bharat” vision. According to him, the state is now among those with the highest number of international airports in the country.
He stressed that airports go beyond being infrastructure assets, serving as engines of economic growth. The Jewar airport, he noted, will benefit a wide region including Agra, Mathura, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Etawah, Bulandshahr and Faridabad by creating new opportunities for farmers, small businesses and young people.
Highlighting recent infrastructure progress in western Uttar Pradesh, Modi pointed to projects such as the semiconductor facility in Noida, the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor, and the expansion of metro services in Meerut, describing the region as a rapidly growing economic hub. He also linked the airport’s development to earlier plans approved during the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, noting that improved multimodal connectivity, including freight corridors converging at Dadri, will strengthen exports and attract investment.
He thanked farmers for contributing land for the project, saying improved connectivity would support food processing industries and help agricultural produce reach international markets more efficiently.
Addressing global concerns, Modi referred to tensions in West Asia that have disrupted supplies of essential commodities such as fuel and fertilisers. He acknowledged India’s dependence on imports from the region and assured that the government is taking measures to protect citizens and farmers from the impact. He also highlighted India’s ethanol blending initiative, crediting sugarcane farmers for helping reduce dependence on crude oil imports, save foreign exchange, and improve their incomes.
The Prime Minister further emphasised the expansion of India’s aviation network, stating that the country now has over 160 airports, with improved connectivity extending beyond major cities to smaller towns. He cited the UDAN scheme as a key initiative making air travel more affordable, benefiting over 1.6 crore passengers, and announced plans to add 100 new airports and 200 helipads.
He also addressed challenges in the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) sector, noting that many Indian aircraft are still serviced abroad. A new MRO facility at Jewar, he said, will create jobs and ensure that more revenue remains within the country.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to infrastructure-led growth, Modi said investments in sectors such as highways, railways, ports and inland waterways have risen significantly over the past decade. He urged unity and patience in the face of global challenges, stressing that national interest remains the guiding principle of government policy.