'Airports Were Named After One Family, We Changed That': PM Modi's Dig At Gandhis In Andhra

Published 1 August 2026 · india

'Airports Were Named After One Family, We Changed That': PM Modi's Dig At Gandhis In Andhra Published By, Last Updated: August 01, 2026, 13:46 IST

'Airports Were Named After One Family, We Changed That': PM Modi's Dig At Gandhis In Andhra Published By, Last Updated: August 01, 2026, 13:46 IST PM Modi took a veiled swipe at the Gandhi family, saying airports were once named after one family, as he inaugurated a new Andhra airport and highlighted aviation growth under NDA Rapid Read Prime Minister Narendra Modi | File image credit: Reuters Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a veiled but sharp attack on the Gandhi family, saying that in the past airports in India were often named after “a single family," as he inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh. Drawing a contrast with earlier practices, Modi said his government had changed the convention by naming key infrastructure after icons from across the country’s cultural and social spectrum.

“We named the airport in Ayodhya after Valmiki and the one in Punjab after Sant Ravidas. The NDA government has decided that this new airport will be named after Alluri Sitarama Raju," he said. The Prime Minister used the occasion to highlight what he described as a broader transformation in India’s aviation sector over the past decade. He said the number of operational airports has more than doubled, from 74 before 2014 to 166 today, marking a significant expansion in connectivity. He also underscored the role of the government’s regional connectivity scheme, UDAN, in democratising air travel. “It is not just the number of airports that has increased. Thanks to UDAN, people from even poor families are getting the opportunity to fly," Modi said, adding that the second phase of the scheme has been launched with an allocation of Rs 29,000 crore.

Bhogapuram Airport The newly inaugurated airport at Bhogapuram has been developed under the public-private partnership model at a cost of over Rs 5,600 crore and is designed to handle around six million passengers annually. The terminal incorporates advanced systems such as biometric passenger processing, automated baggage handling and integrated operational monitoring to enhance efficiency and passenger experience. Officials said the airport also includes several sustainability features, including energy-efficient systems, a 5 MW solar power plant, rainwater harvesting and electric vehicle infrastructure. Its architectural design draws inspiration from Andhra Pradesh’s cultural heritage, blending traditional elements with modern infrastructure. Other Developmental Projects During his visit, Modi is also set to dedicate multiple development projects worth over Rs 17,900 crore to the nation. Later in the day, he will travel to Mysuru in Karnataka to inaugurate the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Youth Centre and address a gathering.