Lucknow, Oct 9: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, on Friday announced the renaming of the Noida International Airport in Jewar to Narendra Modi International Airport, following a resolution passed by his Cabinet to mark PM Modi’s 25 years in public service.

During a meeting on Friday, the Cabinet approved a total of 39 proposals.

While announcing the decision after the meeting, the Chief Minister highlighted the Prime Minister’s 25-year tenure of public service as “pivotal to the development” of both the nation and the state.

Addressing a press conference, the Chief Minister said: “It is a moment of immense pride for the UP Cabinet as it is from the land of UP (Varanasi) that PM Modi was elected as MP.”

He noted that the Prime Minister shares a deep, personal bond with UP, and under his leadership, the state is scaling new heights of development.

Leaders from alliance partners, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, were present alongside the Chief Minister.

CM Adityanath added that the Prime Minister has made service, dedication, and nation-building his mission, and that India’s global stature has strengthened under his leadership.

Linking the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya to the end of a 500-year wait, the Chief Minister cited the development of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and the repatriation and installation of the idol of Goddess Annapurna from abroad as significant examples of the Prime Minister’s efforts.

He observed that while the state lacked basic infrastructure prior to 2017, connectivity has now improved significantly through projects such as expressways, highways, the Metro, and the Regional Rapid Transit System.

“The UP Cabinet is grateful to PM Modi for gifting Noida International Airport to the state, which is UP’s biggest airport and is going to become the country’s biggest aviation hub in the future,” CM Adityanath said.

“Therefore, the Cabinet has passed the resolution to rename the airport as Narendra Modi International airport, Jewar, Noida,” he added.

The development of Jewar Airport is expected to boost UP’s air connectivity and economic activity. PM Modi had inaugurated the first phase of the airport in March this year.

Its initial annual passenger capacity is estimated at approximately 12 million. Upon the completion of all four phases, it is scheduled to rank among Asia’s largest airports.

Highlighting industrial development in the state, CM Adityanath noted that projects such as the BrahMos missile manufacturing unit and the PM MITRA Textile Park in Lucknow will generate new opportunities for investment and employment.

“Uttar Pradesh is also strengthening its position as a logistics hub through improved road and air connectivity,” he mentioned.

Meanwhile, Energy and Urban Development Minister Arvind Kumar Sharma announced that 1,725 ​​new electric buses would be deployed across 18 municipal corporation areas to enhance the urban transport system. Under the established procurement policy, 50 per cent of the buses will be purchased from the company quoting the lowest rate in the tender, while the remaining buses will be sourced from companies manufacturing buses within Uttar Pradesh.

Further, the UP CM highlighted schemes implemented for the poor, farmers, women, and marginalised sections of society. He stated that over 65 lakh houses have been provided under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana’, and free food grains are being distributed to 3.67 crore ration cardholders.

He asserted that the UP Cabinet reaffirms its commitment to work towards realising the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ 2027.

Kutch, Oct 9: At least seven workers were killed and more than 20 others injured after a truck collided head-on with a pickup carrying workers inside the Renewable Energy (RE) Park near Khavda in Gujarat’s Kutch district in the early hours of Friday, police said.

The accident occurred around 4 a.m. when the two vehicles, travelling in opposite directions, collided. The impact left the pickup badly mangled, trapping seven workers inside the wreckage.

“A truck and a pickup truck travelling in opposite directions collided. The impact left the pickup truck mangled. All the victims were occupants of the Bolero Camper,” an official said.

The seven trapped workers were extricated with the help of a crane, but all died in the accident. More than 20 injured workers were taken to a hospital by ambulance for treatment.

Preliminary reports indicated that the pickup truck was carrying more than 20 workers at the time of the collision.

However, the exact number of occupants and the identities of those killed were not immediately available in the police account.

Officials said the bodies were being transported from Khavda to Bhuj for post-mortem examinations.

Police have launched an investigation to establish the circumstances leading to the collision and are examining whether negligence contributed to the accident.

The precise cause of the crash and whether any safety violations were involved remain under investigation.

The accident occurred within the Khavda renewable energy development area, where large-scale clean-energy projects are being developed across the arid region of Kutch. The construction activity has brought a substantial workforce and supporting infrastructure to the area.

Investigators are expected to establish how the two vehicles collided and whether any lapses contributed to the deaths and injuries.

Further details, including the identities of the deceased and the condition of those injured, were not immediately available.

Police have not yet disclosed whether any case has been registered against the drivers or whether any arrests have been made in connection with the accident.

New Delhi, Oct 9: Ahead of the proposed protest by the CJP at Jantar Mantar on October 10, the Delhi Police on Friday said permission for the demonstration has been denied due to the organisers’ failure to comply with legal directions and their own undertakings during an earlier protest.

Citing the prevailing law-and-order situation, public safety and the need to regulate traffic, the police said the decision was taken after considering the circumstances surrounding the proposed demonstration.

Addressing a press conference, Joint Commissioner of Police (New Delhi Range) Nupur Prasad said the police had received an application from Sourav Das, co-convenor of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), regarding a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar seeking accountability from the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

“The intimation was considered, and it was found that it was given at very short notice. As per the prescribed guidelines, the intimation has to be received 10 days prior to the planned protest,” she said.

Prasad further said that on an earlier occasion, the CJP had been granted permission to hold a protest at the venue, but it had failed to comply with lawful directions and its own undertakings.

“Therefore, due to the failure to follow the legal directions and their own undertakings, and considering the prevailing law-and-order situation, public safety and traffic regulation, permission has been rejected this time,” she said.

The Joint CP also said that Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) was in force in the New Delhi area, with preventive restrictions imposed to maintain public order and safety.

She warned that appropriate legal action would be taken against anyone found violating the provisions of Section 163 of the BNSS.

The Delhi Police have also proposed closing the entry and exit points of 57 metro stations from 9 p.m. on Friday until Saturday. The proposal has been sent to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials, and confirmation is awaited. These include Janpath, Patel Chowk, Supreme Court, ITO, Delhi Gate, Kashmere Gate, Rohini West, Welcome, Shalimar Bagh, Adarsh Nagar, and Hauz Khas.

Police officials said the proposal concerns the closure of entry and exit points, while interchange facilities may remain available to commuters.

The proposed restrictions and transport measures come amid preparations to manage public movement, maintain law and order and minimise traffic disruptions in the national capital during the planned protest.