Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday greeted the people of the Harauti region on the occasion of the foundation-laying ceremony of a modern Kota-Bundi Greenfield Airport, saying, “This mega project will act as a catalyst in the economic and industrial growth of Rajasthan, which is progressing at an unprecedented pace.
PM Modi formally laid the foundation stone, through video conferencing, for a modern airport project worth over Rs 1,500 crore at Shambhupura between Kota and Bundi. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Lok Sabha Speaker and local MP Om Birla, and Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu attended the ceremony.
Addressing the gathering, Modi recalled his recent visit to Ajmer, where development projects worth thousands of crores were inaugurated, and appointment letters were handed to over 21,000 youths.
He said these back-to-back programmes 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 observed that today is a day of new hope for Kota, Bundi, Baran, and Jhalawar as the modern airport, being built at a cost of approximately Rs 1,500 crore, begins to take shape.
Recalling his November 2023 visit, the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that the promise made to the people regarding the airport is now being fulfilled.
Referring to the earlier inconvenience of additional journeys to Jodhpur or Jaipur to catch flights, Modi said, “When this airport becomes operational, travel will be easier and shorter, and trade will grow rapidly across the entire Harauti region, including Kota.”
The Prime Minister described Kota as a unique centre of both education and energy, generating electricity from nuclear, coal, gas and water sources. He 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 help multiply the prospects for marketing local brands of global fame.
Highlighting the region’s tourism potential, the PM mentioned the spiritual significance of Shri Mathuradhish Ji and Garadia Mahadev, alongside wildlife destinations such as Mukundara Hills.
The Prime Minister also touched upon the broader connectivity revolution in Kota, including the modernisation of railway stations under the Amrit Bharat scheme and the impact of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.
Acknowledging the efforts of local leadership, the Prime Minister lauded Kota MP and Lok Sabha Speaker Birla for his dedication to the region’s progress.
Praising Birla’s role as the Speaker, Modi 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.