The Noida International Airport in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, will be renamed Narendra Modi International Airport, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Friday. The state Cabinet has approved the proposal, with the chief minister describing the airport as a major addition to Uttar Pradesh's infrastructure.
Announcing the decision while addressing the media, Adityanath said the Cabinet wanted to express its gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the airport project.
"The Council of Ministers of Uttar Pradesh expresses its gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for gifting the state the Noida International Airport at Jewar. The Cabinet has approved a proposal to name it Narendra Modi International Airport, Noida-Jewar," the chief minister said.
Adityanath added that the airport would emerge as Uttar Pradesh's largest aviation facility and a major hub for air travel in the country.
Jewar airport project and passenger capacity
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the airport on March 28 this year. Its first flight landed on June 15, when an IndiGo aircraft arrived from Lucknow.
The first phase of the airport was developed at a cost of Rs 11,282 crore, with an initial annual passenger-handling capacity of 1.2 crore. This capacity can be expanded to 7 crore passengers over the coming years.
The project was developed by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited, a subsidiary of Swiss firm Zurich Airport International AG, in association with Noida International Airport Limited, the implementing agency representing the Uttar Pradesh government.
Runway, navigation systems and connectivity
The airport features a 3,900-metre runway designed to accommodate wide-body aircraft. Its infrastructure includes modern navigation systems to support aircraft operations.
The runway is equipped with an Instrument Landing System (ILS) at both ends, allowing aircraft to approach from either direction depending on wind conditions.
The airport has also been planned as a multimodal transport hub, with connectivity through air, road and other transport networks. Its infrastructure is designed to support passenger movement and provide modern aviation facilities as operations expand.
With the renaming proposal approved by the state Cabinet, the airport is set to carry the Prime Minister's name as Uttar Pradesh seeks to establish Jewar as a major aviation hub.