Noida (Gurpreet Singh): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, March 28, 2026, inaugurated the first phase of the Noida International Airport at Jewar, marking a historic milestone in India’s aviation and infrastructure landscape. Built at an estimated cost of ₹11,200 crore, the airport features a 4-km runway capable of handling major international operations and is expected to serve as a primary gateway for Western Uttar Pradesh and the National Capital Region (NCR). During the event, attended by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, the Prime Minister highlighted that the project, originally conceived in 2003 under the Vajpayee administration, has finally become an operational asset that will transform the region into a global logistics and economic hub.
However, the inauguration was set against the sobering backdrop of the escalating West Asia crisis. Prime Minister Modi utilized the platform to address national concerns, noting that global disruptions are already triggering price pressures and shortages in essential commodities such as fuel, gas, fertilizers, and food. Given India’s significant dependence on crude imports from the region, he assured citizens that the government is working proactively to shield farmers and ordinary families from the fallout. He emphasized that ethanol production from sugarcane in Uttar Pradesh has already played a crucial role in reducing the nation’s import burden, providing a localized cushion against global supply shocks.
The Prime Minister also took a sharp swipe at previous political leaderships, claiming that “superstition” regarding visits to Noida had stalled the region’s development for decades. He contrasted this with the current “Viksit Bharat” momentum, citing the recent rollout of the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor and the new semiconductor facility in Noida as evidence of a resurgent Uttar Pradesh. With domestic and cargo flights expected to commence within weeks, the Noida International Airport is positioned to significantly ease congestion at Delhi’s IGI Airport and integrate local agricultural and industrial produce with international markets through a robust multi-modal network.
