India: PM Modi inaugurates Phase I of Noida International Airport

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 28 March 2026 formally inaugurated the Noida International Airport at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh, India. The PM said the opening of the airport marked the beginning of a new chapter for both the state and the country. “Today we are starting a new chapter for a developed Uttar Pradesh and a developed India,” he stated.

The National Capital Region’s second airport, developed with an investment of around INR 11,200 crore, in its first phase will handle 12 million passengers annually with a single runway, as per PIB report. The long-term plan envisions a capacity of 70 million passengers per year.

Highlighting the impact of the new airport, the PM said that the Noida airport will serve the entire region spanning Agra, Mathura, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Etawah, Bulandshahr and Faridabad. He stressed that the airport would bring new opportunities for the farmers of Western Uttar Pradesh. “Flights from here will connect to the world, and this airport will also stand as a symbol of a developed Uttar Pradesh taking flight,” the PM noted, congratulating the people of UP, especially those in Western UP.

Speaking about the current global situation, the Prime Minister observed that the entire world is deeply concerned today, with the ongoing conflict in West Asia persisting for over a month, disrupting supplies of essential commodities including food, petrol, diesel, gas, and fertilizers in many countries. He noted that India imports large quantities of crude oil and gas from the conflict-affected region. “The Government is taking every possible step to ensure that the burden of this crisis does not fall on ordinary families and farmers,” he said. The PM appealed to the people to face this crisis with a calm mind and patience, calling it the greatest strength of Indians.

Addressing a gap in India’s aviation ecosystem, the Prime Minister drew attention to the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) sector, stating that 85% of aircraft in India still have to be sent abroad for MRO services. He said the government has resolved to make India self-reliant in this sector as well, and highlighted that the foundation stone of an MRO facility has been laid at Jewar to address this issue. The Prime Minister also observed that India’s rapidly growing aviation sector creates tremendous opportunities for the youth.