Noida Airport Renaming: In a landmark decision, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Friday approved a proposal to rename the upcoming Noida International Airport in Jewar as the ‘Narendra Modi International Airport Noida Jewar.’
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath officially announced the cabinet’s decision during a press briefing at the Media Centre in Lok Bhavan, Lucknow. Flanked by Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, alongside NDA alliance ministers Ashish Patel, Om Prakash Rajbhar, Sanjay Nishad, and Anil Kumar, Chief Minister Yogi emphasized that the Prime Minister’s vision is driving Uttar Pradesh toward becoming the nation’s largest aviation hub.
Special Resolution Passed Marking PM Modi’s 25 Years in Public Governance
Noida Airport Renaming: Alongside the airport renaming, the UP Council of Ministers passed a special commendation resolution honoring Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25-year journey as the head of a government (spanning his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister and subsequently as Prime Minister). The milestone was reached on October 7.
Highlighting PM Modi’s parliamentary connection to the state, CM Yogi recalled his 2014 arrival in Varanasi, where the Prime Minister famously declared that “Maa Ganga” had called him. According to the Chief Minister, that deep-seated emotional and spiritual bond with Kashi has served as the bedrock for Uttar Pradesh’s transformation over the past decade.
From Administrative Stagnation to an Investment Powerhouse
Noida Airport Renaming: Reflecting on the state’s trajectory, Chief Minister Yogi pointed out that prior to 2017, Uttar Pradesh was severely bottlenecked by administrative inertia, widespread insecurity, and critical infrastructure deficits.
Under the Prime Minister’s guidance, the state pivoted toward transparent, technology-driven governance, robust law enforcement, and an enterprise-friendly environment. The synergy of the “double-engine government” has enabled Uttar Pradesh to reach unprecedented developmental benchmarks.
Infrastructure Push: Expressways, Metro Networks, and Freight Corridors
Noida Airport Renaming: The Chief Minister detailed the ongoing revolution in the state’s transport and industrial corridors:
National Highways & Expressways: 42 national highways spanning 2,483 kilometers have been constructed at an estimated cost of ₹60,000 crore. Major arteries including the Delhi–Saharanpur–Dehradun, Delhi–Meerut, and Kanpur–Lucknow expressways are operational.
Rapid & Urban Rail: The Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut Namo Bharat regional rapid transit train is now functional, built at an investment exceeding ₹30,000 crore. Urban metro networks have expanded across Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Meerut, Ghaziabad, and Noida–Greater Noida.
Logistics & Freight: Dadri has emerged as the crucial junction connecting the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors, over 1,050 kilometers of which pass through UP. Varanasi houses India’s first multimodal inland port terminal alongside a 100-acre freight village.
Defense & Industry: Key industrial engines include the BrahMos Missile Assembly Unit in Lucknow, the broader Defense Industrial Corridor, and the 1,000-acre PM MITRA Textile Park.
Targeted Welfare and Economic Safeguards for Farmers
Highlighting agricultural and rural support schemes, the Chief Minister outlined several key financial relief measures:
Direct Income Support: Over ₹1 lakh crore has been directly transferred to more than 3 crore farmers via PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.
Debt Relief & Credit Access: Debt relief was provided to 86 lakh small and marginal farmers. Additionally, over 5.50 crore Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) facilitated crop loans exceeding ₹13.42 lakh crore.
Crop Protection & Sugarcane Dues: Crop compensation was disbursed to 79.51 lakh farmers, while sugarcane growers received payouts crossing ₹3.30 lakh crore.
Expanding the Social Safety Net: Housing, Healthcare, and Basic Amenities
The state government highlighted extensive social sector achievements across housing, sanitation, energy, and health services:
Housing & Food Security: Over 65 lakh underprivileged families received housing units under PM Awas Yojana. Additionally, free food grains are being provided to around 15 crore individuals across 3.67 crore ration cardholder families.
Water, Sanitation, & Energy: Tap water connections have been delivered to 2.46 crore rural households under the Jal Jeevan Mission. The state built 3.37 crore household toilets and 59,183 community toilets. Furthermore, 1.86 crore free LPG connections were issued under Ujjwala, supplemented by state-sponsored free cylinders on major festivals.
Healthcare Coverage: Under Ayushman Bharat, over 6 crore cards were issued, covering 9.90 crore citizens and delivering ₹18,798 crore worth of free treatment to 1.09 crore critical patients. Over 14.67 crore patients were treated via Mukhyamantri Arogya Melas, while AIIMS institutes are fully operational in Gorakhpur and Raebareli.
Employment Generation, Youth Empowerment, and Social Inclusion
On employment and skill development, CM Yogi shared that over 9.50 lakh government jobs have been granted, while private sector initiatives helped generate 65 lakh job placements. Furthermore, 31.11 lakh youth received vocational training, and over 62 lakh students were equipped with smartphones and tablets.
Women’s empowerment initiatives have integrated over 1 crore women into 10 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHGs). In urban and rural micro-economics, PM SVANidhi supported 15 lakh street vendors, while the Svamitva Scheme awarded property ownership cards (Gharauni) to 1.10 crore rural families.
The Chief Minister also attributed the constitutional recognition of the Backward Classes Commission and the implementation of the 10% EWS reservation directly to PM Modi’s decisive leadership.
Elevating Local Heritage and Products to Global Prominence
Through the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, Uttar Pradesh’s traditional craftsmanship has gained global recognition. PM Modi personally presented items like Varanasi’s Pink Meenakari to the US President, Nizamabad’s Black Pottery to the Japanese Prime Minister, and Kannauj’s Attar (perfume) to the French President. Today, Lucknow’s Zardozi work is similarly celebrated worldwide.
On the agricultural front, Uttar Pradesh continues to rank first nationally in the production of food grains, milk, sugarcane, mangoes, amla, and millets.
Cultural Renaissance and the Vision for ‘Viksit Bharat-2047’
The Chief Minister credited the Prime Minister’s relentless efforts for major cultural milestones, including the Pran Pratishtha of Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya and the transformation of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor.
Stolen heritage items, such as the idol of Goddess Annapurna and ancient Buddhist relics from Piprahwa, were successfully repatriated from abroad.
Events like the Mahakumbh (which hosted over 66 crore devotees), Kashi Tamil Sangamam, the expansion of the Buddhist Circuit, and the development of Rashtriya Prerna Sthal underline this cultural resurgence.
Closing his address, CM Yogi reaffirmed that the UP Cabinet stands fully committed to realizing the vision of a Viksit Uttar Pradesh as a cornerstone for Viksit Bharat-2047.