**Executive Summary**
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Kota Airport via video message on March 7, 2026, marking a significant milestone for the Hadoti region. The airport, costing approximately ₹1,500 crore, is intended to boost economic and industrial growth, with operationalization expected to ease travel and accelerate trade. The initiative is part of a broader connectivity enhancement in Rajasthan, alongside railway station modernizations and the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Kota Airport Development**
* Foundation stone laid by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on March 7, 2026.
* Estimated cost of construction: Approximately ₹1,500 crore.
* Purpose: To provide new momentum to the development of the entire Hadoti region (including Kota, Bundi, Baran, and Jhalawar).
* Anticipated outcome: Easier travel and rapid growth in trade across the region once operational.
* Significance: Seen as a catalyst for economic and industrial growth in Rajasthan.
* **Broader Connectivity Initiatives in Kota**
* **Amrit Bharat Station Scheme:** Both major railway stations in Kota are being equipped with modern facilities.
* **Delhi-Mumbai Expressway:** This expressway, passing through Kota and Bundi, is opening a new gateway for regional development.
* **Overall Impact:** These combined connectivity improvements (air, rail, and road) are expected to accelerate Kota's development.
* **Regional Development and Potential**
* The airport is expected to multiply the possibilities for Kota's existing strengths, such as education, energy production, Kota Doria sarees, Kota stone, and agricultural produce.
* Enhanced air connectivity is anticipated to attract global tourists to the region's spiritual sites and wildlife hubs, benefiting youth, traders, and the local economy.
* **National Context**
* The Prime Minister noted the significant increase in airports nationwide from 70 in 2014 to over 160 currently.
* The development of the Kota airport is framed as contributing to the vision of a "Developed Rajasthan" and "Developed India."
**Impact Analysis**
**Hadoti Region (Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar)**
* **Impact:** Enhanced connectivity through a new airport and improved railway stations will facilitate easier travel and stimulate trade. The region's economic and industrial growth is expected to accelerate. Tourism potential will be boosted.
* **Action Required:** No specific actions are detailed in the document for the general public or local administration. However, implied actions include leveraging the new infrastructure for economic opportunities.
**Youth and Traders**
* **Impact:** Direct benefits from increased economic activity and tourism driven by enhanced connectivity.
* **Action Required:** Implied action to capitalize on new opportunities arising from improved infrastructure.
**Local Leadership (e.g., Kota MP and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla)**
* **Impact:** Their efforts in advocating for regional development are acknowledged and seen as contributing to the successful realization of these projects.
* **Action Required:** Continued leadership and dedication to the region's progress are implicitly expected.
Key Entities Referenced
Kota Airport: The newly announced airport project that is the central focus of the policy.
Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: A scheme mentioned in relation to modernizing railway stations in Kota.
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: A major infrastructure project that passes through Kota and Bundi, impacting regional development.
Hadoti Region: The geographical region that will be transformed by the new airport and expressways.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi: The key individual initiating and highlighting these development projects.
Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi lays
Foundation Stone of Kota Airport; Highlights
transformation of Hadoti Region
Today is a day of new hope and new achievement for the
entire Hadoti region including Kota, Bundi, Baran and
Jhalawar: PM
This modern airport, which is going to be built at a cost of
about one and a half thousand crore rupees, is going to give
new momentum to the development of the entire region in the
coming time: PM
When this airport becomes operational, travel will be easier
and trade will grow rapidly across the entire area, including
Kota : PM
Kota is today advancing rapidly in the field of connectivity:
PM
Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, both major railway
stations of Kota are being equipped with modern facilities:
PM
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, which passes through Kota
and Bundi, is opening a new gateway for the development of
the entire region: PM
Posted On: 07 MAR 2026 3:44PM by PIB Delhi
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Kota Airport
via video message today, marking a significant milestone for the Hadoti region. “Rajasthan is progressing
at an unprecedented pace, with the new airport set to become a catalyst for economic and industrial
growth”, Shri Modi emphasized.Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister noted his recent visit to Ajmer where development projects
worth thousands of crores were inaugurated and appointment letters were handed over to over 21,000
youth. He stated that these back-to-back programs within a week send a powerful message about the
state’s development trajectory, noting that "they tell us at what speed Rajasthan is moving forward today."
The Prime Minister highlighted that today is a day of new hope for Kota, Bundi, Baran, and Jhalawar as
the modern airport, built at a cost of approximately 1,500 crore rupees, begins to take shape. While
extending his best wishes to the people of the region, Shri Modi remarked, "This modern airport is going
to give new momentum to the development of the entire region in the coming times."
Recalling his visit in November 2023, the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that the promise made to
the people regarding the airport is now being fulfilled. Transitioning from the previous inconvenience of
traveling to Jaipur or Jodhpur for flights, Shri Modi asserted, "When this airport starts, travel will be easy
and trade will grow rapidly in the entire area including Kota."
The Prime Minister described Kota as a unique center of both education and energy, producing electricity
from nuclear, coal, gas, and water sources. Shri Modi praised the global identity of Kota Doria sarees,
Kota stone, and local agricultural produce like Bundi’s Basmati rice, asserting that "this new airport in
Kota will work to multiply these possibilities many times over."
Discussing the region's potential for tourism, the Prime Minister mentioned the spiritual significance of
Shri Mathuradhish Ji and Garadia Mahadev alongside wildlife hubs like Mukundara Hills. “The enhanced
air connectivity would bring global tourists to the region, and its direct benefit will be available to the
youth, traders, and local economy here", Shri Modi emphasised.
The Prime Minister also touched upon the broader connectivity revolution in Kota, including the
modernization of railway stations under the Amrit Bharat scheme and the impact of the Delhi-Mumbai
Expressway. Highlighting the shift toward agro-based industries, Shri Modi stated, "this new chapter of air
connectivity after rail and road will give more speed to the development of Kota."
Acknowledging the efforts of local leadership, the Prime Minister lauded Kota MP and Lok Sabha
Speaker Om Birla for his dedication to the region's progress. Commenting on Shri Birla’s role in the
Parliament, the Prime Minister remarked that "he is a teacher who handles the entire class well, even when
facing unruly students from certain big families."
Reflecting on the national aviation landscape, the Prime Minister noted that the number of airports has
increased from 70 in 2014 to over 160 today. Pointing to new terminals and airports near Delhi as
examples of decentralized growth, Shri Modi expressed, "I am confident that this new airport of Kota will
also give new momentum to the development of this area in the same way."
In his concluding remarks, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of the "Double Engine" government
and clear intentions in achieving rapid progress. He envisioned a prosperous and empowered state,
concluding that "this strong foundation of Developed Rajasthan is giving more strength to the resolution
of Developed India.”
Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Kota airport.
https://t.co/2DvujkMMK0
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 7, 2026आज का दन कोटा, बूंदी, बारां और झालावाड़ सहत पूर हाड़ौती ेत्र के लए एक नई आशा और नई
उपल का दन ह।
करीब डढ़ हजार करोड़ रुपये स े बनने जा रहा य े आधुनक एयरपोट आन े वाल े समय म पूर ेत्र के वकास
को नई गत दन े वाला ह: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 7, 2026
जब यह एयरपोट शुरू होगा, तो कोटा समेत आसपास के पूर इलाके म यात्रा भी आसान होगी और ापार
भी तेज़ी से बढ़गा: PM @narendramodi during foundation stone laying ceremony for
Kota airport
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 7, 2026
कोटा आज connectivity के ेत्र म तेजी स े आगे बढ़ रहा ह।
अमृत भारत ेशन योजना के तहत कोटा के दोन प्रमुख रल व े ेशन को आधुनक सुवधाओ ंसे
सुसत कया जा रहा ह।
दी-मुंबई एक्सप्रेसवे, जो कोटा और बूी से होकर गुजर रहा ह, पूर ेत्र के वकास का नया ार
खोल…
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 7, 2026
***
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