PM inaugurates and lays the foundation stone of new terminal buildings of 15 airports across the country

NEW DELHI : Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated, dedicated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development initiatives worth more than Rs 34,000 crores in an event at Azamgarh Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister noted the change of such programme happening in places like Azamgarh instead of being held here. “Azamgarh, which was counted among the backward areas, is writing a new chapter of development ” PM Modi said. These projects worth Rs 34,000 crore were either inaugurated or their foundation stones were laid from Azamgarh.

The Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 15 airport projects across the country worth more than Rs 9800 crore. He inaugurated 12 new Terminal Buildings of Pune, Kolhapur, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Delhi, Lucknow, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Moradabad, Shravasti and Adampur Airports. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of three new Terminal Buildings of Kadapa, Hubballi and Belagavi Airports. To illustrate the speed of the completion of airports, the Prime Minister informed that Gwalior terminal was completed in just 16 months. “This initiative will make air travel easier and accessible for the common citizens of the country”, he said. The Prime Minister emphasized that the record of the government of completing announced project in time repudiates the allegation of these projects being election gimmicks. “People are seeing that Modi is made of different material. I am working relentlessly to create a Viksit Bharat”, the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister said that along with airport, highway and railway infrastructure, projects related with education, water and environment received a new push today. Giving a new guarantee to the people of Azamgarh, the Prime Minister said that ‘Azamgarh will remain ‘Aajanm’ a ‘Vikas ka Garh’ (bastion of development forever). Breaking into local dialect, the Prime Minister said with airport, hospital and medical college, Azamgarh is no longer dependent on the neighbouring big cities.

The Prime Minister said that in the last 10 years, the region is seeing politics of development in place of the earlier politics of appeasement and dynasty. This trend got a new momentum under the leadership of the Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, the Prime Minister said. He said cities like Aligarh, Moradabad,  Azamgarh, Shravasti which were ignored as backward areas of Uttar Pradesh are getting air connectivity due to rapid overall development. He said just like welfare schemes, modern infrastructure is moving beyond metro cities to small towns and villages. “Small cities have equal right to airports and good highways as big metro cities”
PM Modi emphasized. “We are increasing the strength of the tier 2 and tier 3 cities so that urbanization continues unabated”, said the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Modi emphasized the importance of connectivity and infrastructure development in the region. He referred to the inauguration and foundation laying ceremonies of several railway projects, including those connecting districts like Sitapur, Shahjahanpur, Gazipur, and Prayagraj. Azamgarh, Mau and Balia received the gift of many railway projects. In addition to railway projects, Prime Minister Modi underscored the government’s commitment to rural infrastructure development through the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. He stated, “More than 5,000 kilometers of roads have been inaugurated under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, aiming to improve connectivity for the farmers and youth of Eastern Uttar Pradesh.”

Prime Minister Modi also highlighted the government’s focus on ensuring fair prices for farmers’ produce. He talked about the substantial increase in Minimum Support Price (MSP) for various crops, including sugarcane, stating, “Today, MSP for sugarcane farmers has been increased by 8 percent, reaching Rs. 340 per quintal.”

Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi addressed the historical challenges faced by sugarcane farmers in the region, emphasizing the government’s efforts to address their grievances. He noted, “Our government has settled pending dues worth thousands of crores for sugarcane farmers, providing them timely and fair payments.” He also elaborated on transformation brought about by initiatives in biogas and ethanol. Regarding PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, the Prime Minister informed that in Azamgarh itself 8 lakh farmers received 2,000 crore rupees under the scheme.

Highlighting the transformative impact of government initiatives, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the need for honest governance to achieve rapid development. He stated, “Honest governance is essential for achieving unprecedented development. Our government is committed to eliminating corruption and ensuring transparent governance.”

Prime Minister Modi expressed confidence in the transformative potential of the government’s initiatives for Eastern Uttar Pradesh. He stated, “The establishment of Maharaja Suheldev Rajkiya Vishwavidyalaya and other initiatives will empower the youth and transform the educational landscape of the region.”

Highlighting UP’s pivotal role in shaping national politics and development, Prime Minister Modi emphasized how the state’s progress aligns with the nation’s growth trajectory. The Prime Minister commended UP for its exemplary implementation of central schemes under the double engine government and positioning the state among the top performers in this regard. He noted the significant investment made in UP over the past years, with infrastructure development and the creation of numerous opportunities for the youth being key outcomes.

PM Modi highlighted UP’s rising profile, fueled by record levels of investment, ground-breaking ceremonies, and the expansion of expressway networks and highways. He praised the state’s focus on improving law and order, exemplified by the completion of the historic Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.