'I haven't inaugurated it, you have': PM Modi's unconventional opening of the Noida International Airport | Watch

PM Modi's unconventional opening of the Noida International Airport | Watch

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a surprise for the crowd at the inauguration of Noida International Airport on Saturday, refusing to take credit for it. He asked everyone to pull out their phones, turn on their flashlights, and light up the venue themselves. "I have only unveiled the curtain," he said. "You are the ones inaugurating this airport today."

Addressing the public during the ceremony, Prime Minister Modi said, "Has it been inaugurated? No. Only half the work has been completed so far. I have merely unveiled the curtain. Today, I want all of you present here to inaugurate this airport. So, please take out your mobile phones, switch on the flashlight, and light it like a lamp..."

Speaking about the inauguration being symbolic, Prime Minister Modi said, "The Jewar Airport is also a very good example of the work culture of a double‑engine government. This airport was approved on file during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 2003... For years, when the Congress was in power at the Centre and earlier governments were in power here, even laying the foundation stone of this airport was not allowed. From 2004 to 2014, this airport remained buried in files. When our government came to power at the Centre, Uttar Pradesh still had a Samajwadi Party government, which did not allow work on this project during the initial two to three years..."

Highlighting the significance of the project, Prime Minister Modi said, "Mathura, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Etawah, Bulandshahr, and Faridabad - this entire region is going to benefit immensely. Of course, India and Uttar Pradesh will benefit as a whole. This airport will bring numerous new opportunities for farmers, small and micro industries, and the youth of western Uttar Pradesh. Flights will take off from here to destinations across the world, and at the same time, this airport will also become a symbol of the flight of a Viksit Uttar Pradesh. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the people of Uttar Pradesh, especially the citizens of western Uttar Pradesh, on the inauguration of this grand airport."

Highlighting broader development initiatives, Prime Minister Modi said,"All these projects are a shining example of the efforts of the double‑engine government towards the development of Uttar Pradesh. The semiconductor factory is making India 'Aatmanirbhar' in technology. The Meerut Metro and Namo Bharat train are providing fast and smart connectivity. And this Jewar Airport is connecting the entire northern India to the world."

Speaking about ongoing development momentum, Prime Minister Modi said, "Even during this period of crisis, India has continued its rapid pace of development without interruption. If I speak only about western Uttar Pradesh, then in just the past few weeks, this is the fourth major project whose foundation stone has been laid or which has been inaugurated..."

Commenting on infrastructure scale and growth, Prime Minister Modi said, "Such an airport is being built here that one aircraft will take off every two minutes. Earlier, the Samajwadi Party had turned Noida into a centre of looting. But today, under the BJP government, the same Noida is becoming a strong engine of Uttar Pradesh’s development."

Addressing global challenges and impact, Prime Minister Modi said, "You can all see how concerned the entire world is today. A war has been going on in West Asia for over a month. Because of this war, many countries are facing crises related to essential commodities such as food, fuel, petrol, diesel, gas, and fertilisers. Every country is making efforts in its own way to deal with this crisis, and India is also confronting this challenge with full strength, relying on the resilience of its people. India imports a significant amount of crude oil and gas from regions affected by the ongoing conflict. Therefore, the government is taking every necessary step to ensure that the burden of this crisis does not fall on ordinary families or our farmer brothers and sisters."

Noida International Airport 

Noida International Airport is among the largest greenfield airport projects in India. Phase I of Noida International Airport has been developed at a total investment of around Rs 11,200 crore under a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model. 

The airport has been developed as the second international airport serving the Delhi-NCR region, complementing the existing Indira Gandhi International Airport. Together, the two airports are expected to function as an integrated aviation system, easing congestion, expanding passenger capacity, and positioning the region among leading global aviation hubs.