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Noida International Airport Inaugurated: For millions of travellers across western Uttar Pradesh and the wider NCR, the wait is finally over.
Before inauguration of Noida International Airport Phase-1, a sacred artefact of Lord Buddha was presented to PM Narendra Modi. (X/ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has just inaugurated Phase I of the Noida International Airport in Jewar, marking a landmark moment for the National Capital Region and India’s aviation ambitions. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stood alongside the Prime Minister as the curtain was lifted on what promises to be one of the country’s most significant infrastructure milestones in recent years.
Opening his speech to a charged atmosphere, Prime Minister Modi kicked things off with resounding chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai — before turning the moment into something truly memorable. He invited the entire audience to switch on their phone flashlights and become part of the inauguration themselves.
“Raise your flashlights high as you chant Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” he said, before adding with characteristic flair: “This is not just a flashlight — it is a diya, a lamp, through which you are inaugurating this airport.”
The gesture drew an enthusiastic response from the crowd, transforming what could have been a routine ribbon-cutting into a moment of collective celebration.
Here Are The Top Quotes From PM Narendra Modi’s Speech
• Addressing the gathering, PM Modi reflected on his deep bond with the state, saying that Uttar Pradesh — the land that chose him as its representative and sent him to Parliament — now has its pride woven into the very name of this airport.
• He went on to highlight the transformative impact the facility would have across the region. “Cities like Agra, Mathura, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Meerut, and Etawah — all these areas stand to benefit enormously,” he said, adding that the airport would open up countless opportunities for farmers and the youth alike.
• “This will become a symbol of a developed Uttar Pradesh,” he declared — singling out western Uttar Pradesh in particular as a region poised for remarkable growth.
• Taking a pointed dig at previous governments, PM Modi noted that the airport had first received approval back in 2003, during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure. “Many of the young people here today weren’t even born then — yet the airport never came up,” he said, adding that successive governments had not even allowed its foundation stone to be laid.
• From 2004 to 2014, he said, the project remained buried in files. And even after his government came to power at the Centre, the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh continued to obstruct its progress. It was only when the BJP came to power in the state as well, he said, that both governments worked in tandem — and finally turned the long-cherished dream of the Noida International Airport into reality.
What Else Did PM Modi Do On March 28?
Earlier in the day, PM Modi toured and reviewed the sprawling facility before formally declaring it open — a project built at an investment of approximately Rs 11,200 crore under the Public-Private Partnership model.
Why Are Delhi-NCR Residents Excited About Noida Airport?
Envisioned as a major international gateway for the NCR, the airport is set to complement the existing Indira Gandhi International Airport, with the two functioning as an integrated twin-airport system.
Together, they are expected to ease long-standing congestion, dramatically expand passenger capacity, and firmly place Delhi NCR on the map among the world’s leading aviation hubs.
For millions of travellers across western Uttar Pradesh and the wider NCR, the wait is finally over. A new runway to the world has just opened — and it begins at Jewar.
March 28, 2026, 12:44 IST
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