Noida airport renamed after Modi: Congress questions jobs, not just the name
Synopsis
The Yogi Adityanath Cabinet's decision to rename Noida's ₹30,000 crore Jewar airport after PM Modi has drawn a pointed Congress counter: what's the employment outcome? UP Congress chief Aradhna Misra Mona is reframing the controversy from symbolism to accountability — and widening the attack to an alleged deletion of 13 crore voter names.
Key Takeaways
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the renaming of Noida International Airport at Jewar as Narendra Modi International Airport on 9 October 2026 .
The Cabinet resolution was passed to mark PM Modi 's 25 years in public service .
UP Congress President Aradhna Misra Mona questioned the move, citing the airport's cost of around ₹30,000 crore and demanding accountability on employment generation.
The airport's first phase was inaugurated by PM Modi in March 2026 ; initial capacity is around 12 million passengers annually.
Upon completion of all four phases , the facility is slated to rank among Asia's largest airports .
Misra Mona also alleged deletion of 13 crore names from the voter list under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar 's resignation.
Uttar Pradesh Congress President Aradhna Misra Mona on Friday, 9 October sharply questioned the Yogi Adityanath government's decision to rename the Noida International Airport at Jewar as Narendra Modi International Airport, arguing that renaming a facility built at a cost of around ₹30,000 crore does nothing to alter its operational destiny or deliver tangible benefits to the people of Uttar Pradesh.
Congress Challenges the Rationale
'Changing the name of an airport, which was built at a cost of around ₹30,000 crore, cannot change the fate of the airport,' Misra Mona said, taking direct aim at the Cabinet resolution passed by the Yogi government. She invoked an earlier incident where an airport built with taxpayers' money was, according to her, 'completely waterlogged after rain,' using it as a marker of governance priorities.
'You can name the airport whatever you feel like, but you also need to tell the people of the state how much employment it is bringing to the people of Uttar Pradesh,' she said, framing the controversy as one of accountability over symbolism.
What the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Decided
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday announced the renaming following a Cabinet resolution passed to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 25 years in public service. 'The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet is grateful to PM Modi for gifting Noida International Airport to the state, which is Uttar Pradesh's biggest airport and is going to become the country's biggest aviation hub in the future,' CM Adityanath said. The Cabinet resolution formally designates the facility as Narendra Modi International Airport at Jewar.
Airport's Scale and Phased Timeline
PM Modi had inaugurated the first phase of the airport in March 2026. The facility's initial annual passenger capacity is estimated at around 12 million. Upon the completion of all four phases, it is scheduled to rank among Asia's largest airports, with the development expected to boost the state's air connectivity and broader economic activity.
Congress Widens Attack to Voter List Row
Beyond the airport naming, Misra Mona also raised the issue of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, alleging that 13 crore names had been omitted from the voter list. She demanded that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) explain the deletions and called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign over what she described as 'vote theft.' The allegations represent a separate front in the Congress party's broader offensive against the ruling dispensation in the state.
As the Narendra Modi International Airport at Jewar moves toward fuller operational capacity, the political debate around its renaming signals that airport infrastructure — and its employment promise — will remain a contested issue in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the state's next electoral cycle.
Point of View
And the Congress is right to probe what it signals about the boundary between state resources and political branding. The more substantive question — employment generation from a ₹30,000 crore project — deserves a direct government answer rather than deflection. Notably, Misra Mona's pivot to the SIR voter-deletion allegation in the same press conference suggests the Congress is stitching together a larger governance-accountability narrative ahead of the next UP electoral cycle. Whether the airport's operational performance can validate the political symbolism attached to its new name remains the real test.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Noida International Airport renamed Narendra Modi International Airport?
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet passed a resolution on 9 October 2026 to rename the airport in honour of PM Narendra Modi's 25 years in public service. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the decision, describing the airport as Uttar Pradesh's biggest and a future national aviation hub.
What is the Congress's objection to the airport renaming?
UP Congress President Aradhna Misra Mona argued that renaming the ₹30,000 crore airport changes nothing about its performance or the employment it generates for Uttar Pradesh residents. She questioned the government on tangible benefits rather than symbolic gestures.
What is the current status and capacity of Noida International Airport at Jewar?
PM Modi inaugurated the airport's first phase in March 2026. Its initial annual passenger capacity is around 12 million; after all four phases are complete, it is expected to rank among Asia's largest airports.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) controversy Aradhna Misra Mona raised?
Misra Mona alleged that 13 crore names were omitted from the voter list under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, calling it 'vote theft.' She also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the issue.
Where is the Narendra Modi International Airport located?
The airport is located in Jewar, within the Noida region of Uttar Pradesh. It is described by the Yogi government as the state's largest airport and a prospective national aviation hub.
