Page 32 - NIS English 16-30 April, 2026

The Flight Of Progress

Defined By Airports

In any country, an airport is not merely a standard amenity; rather, it gives new wings to the
progress of both the state and the nation. This is precisely why the Central Government is
making unprecedented investments in modern infrastructure to realize the vision of a Viksit
Bharat. In alignment with this initiative, on March 28—during the inauguration of Phase
I of the Noida International Airport (located in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh), developed with an
investment of ₹11,200 crore—Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that, starting today, a
new chapter is being written in the campaign for a ‘Viksit Uttar Pradesh, Viksit Bharat’...

he foundation stone for the Noida Interna- Recently, the Central Government approved an
tional Airport in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, was laid expansion of the UDAN scheme with an outlay of
T by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021, approximately ₹29,000 crore. Under this initiative,
and it has now been inaugurated by him as well. 100 new airports and 200 new helipads will be
With the inauguration of this airport, Uttar Pradesh constructed in smaller cities across the country.
has become the state with the highest number of
international airports in the country. Following this
inauguration, the total number of airports in the Its foundation was laid following the formation of the
state has risen to 17, while the count of international Central Government led by Prime Minister Narendra
airports has reached five. The opening of this airport Modi. Construction work subsequently commenced,
will benefit a vast region, including major cities such and the airport has now become operational. Notably,
as Agra, Mathura, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Etawah, the foundation stone for this airport was laid by Prime
Bulandshahr, and Faridabad. For the farmers, Small Minister Narendra Modi himself in 2021.
and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and youth of Western PM Modi noted that, in Western Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh, this airport will unlock a multitude of alone, this marks the fourth major project in recent
new opportunities. Flights from this airport will take weeks to have been either inaugurated or for which
off for destinations across the globe. The Jewar Airport the foundation stone has been laid. During this period,
project had originally received approval from the then- the foundation for a major semiconductor factory was
Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as early as 2003. laid in Noida; the country’s first Delhi-Meerut ‘Namo

30 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || April 16-30, 2026