The Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday said the Noida International Airport at Jewar is set to become a “game changer” for the state’s economy with a wide-ranging impact across agriculture, industry, logistics and employment generation.. A view of the newly constructed Noida International Airport, ahead of its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Noida, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (PTI). The airport, scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 28, will act as a strategic engine in accelerating UP’s ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy, the government said in a statement.. It said the project will significantly boost employment, attract investments and enhance global connectivity, while also strengthening the state’s presence on the international economic map.. Developed in line with the vision of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the airport is expected to unlock the state’s landlocked economic potential by connecting key sectors such as agriculture; micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); tourism and industries directly to global markets.. According to the statement, the airport will have an annual capacity of handling around seven crore passengers and nearly 10 lakh tonnes of cargo, which will provide fresh momentum to agriculture, MSMEs and logistics sectors.. It said perishable agricultural produce such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products and flowers will be able to access international markets more efficiently, potentially increasing farmers’ income and strengthening the “farm-to-global market” model.. The government added that reduced logistics costs, increased exports and improved connectivity will enhance UP’s competitiveness and economic growth. Once fully operational, the airport could contribute to over one per cent growth in the state’s GDP, it said.. The project is also expected to generate substantial employment opportunities, both direct and indirect, across sectors such as aviation, logistics, hospitality, agriculture and supply chains, while also boosting industrial development in regions surrounding the airport.. The government said the development of the airport will transform Noida, Greater Noida and the Yamuna Expressway region into major investment and industrial hubs, attracting investments in sectors including electronics, manufacturing, logistics and real estate.. It added that the airport is being developed as a major multi-modal aviation hub, which will help ease pressure on Delhi’s IGI Airport and position UP as a key centre for global trade, tourism and connectivity.. Meanwhile, preparations for the inauguration ceremony have reached the final stages, with the administration on high alert to ensure smooth conduct of the event.. According to an official statement, security arrangements, traffic management, parking, medical facilities and other essential services are being put in place on a war footing. CCTV surveillance and control room monitoring have been strengthened, 

 At least 67 candidates, including a legislator who recently switched from the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) to the National People’s Party (NPP) prior to filing nominations, withdrew from the fray on Thursday for the upcoming Assam assembly elections, bringing the total number of contestants down to 722, officials said.. 67 candidates withdraw from Assam assembly polls (Representative photo). Aminul Islam, who won from the Mankachar seat in 2021 on an AIUDF ticket, had switched to the NPP after being denied a ticket. But on Thursday, the 50-year-old withdrew his nomination papers, according to the Election Commission (EC).. A total of 815 candidates had filed 1,389 nomination papers across 126 constituencies in the state. Following scrutiny, 789 candidates were found eligible on Wednesday to contest.. “Out of 789 validly nominated candidates, a total of 67 candidates have withdrawn their candidature on Thursday. Consequently, 722 candidates remain in the fray,” the Assam state election office stated in a release.. On Wednesday, the EC had rejected the nomination papers of a Congress candidate from the Barpeta assembly constituency in Assam for discrepancies.. According to the Barpeta district commissioner’s office, the two sets of nomination papers submitted by the Congress candidate, Mahananda Sarkar, for the scheduled caste (SC) reserved seat were rejected due to discrepancies in Form A, which is submitted along with other documents.. Voting for the single-phase election to all 126 assembly seats in Assam will take place on April 9, and counting will be held on May 4. 

 The Delhi Traffic Police issued a comprehensive traffic advisory on Thursday on the temporary closure of the Khanda Chowk Bridge in the Chander Vihar, Nangloi area.. The Khanda Chowk Bridge, situated over a drain, will remain closed for a projected period of seven days starting March 26. (Representative/HT File Photo ). The closure, which takes effect from March 26, 2026, is necessitated by essential repair and resurfacing works being executed by the Irrigation and Flood Control (I & FC) Department, it said.. Road closure details, duration. The Khanda Chowk Bridge, situated over a drain, will remain closed for a projected period of seven days, which means until next Thursday, April 2.. This is intended to facilitate necessary structural improvements to the bridge surface and ensure long-term safety for commuters.. To manage the resulting impact on local traffic, the Delhi Traffic Police implemented specific arrangements to maintain smooth vehicle flow and minimise congestion in the Nangloi area.. Traffic diversions and alternate routes. Commuters are strongly advised to plan their journeys in advance and utilise the following alternate routes designated by the authorities, the advisory said.. From Nilothi towards Vikas Puri: Motorists coming from Nilothi are advised to take an alternate route via Mahadev Chowk. From there, they should proceed towards Macchi Market/DAV Public School, Vikas Puri to reach their final destinations.. Macchi Market, Vikas Puri towards Nilothi/Chander Vihar: Traffic moving in the opposite direction is similarly advised to divert via Mahadev Chowk. Commuters should follow the route leading towards Chander Vihar or Nilothi to bypass the closed bridge.. The police have also requested all motorists to remain patient, adhere strictly to traffic rules, and cooperate with personnel deployed at various intersections to ensure effective traffic management.. For real-time updates and further assistance, citizens can connect with the Delhi Traffic Police through several official channels, including WhatsApp at 87508-71493. The helpline numbers are 1095 or 011-25844444. 

 Nothing brings Indians together like cricket does — even across political boundaries. Karnataka has presented the latest example of this. Steeped in “VIP” culture, though.. Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli, captain Rajat Patidar, and others during a practice session ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 cricket match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, on Thursday, March 26. (PTI Photo). Legislators from both the state’s ruling Congress and the opposition BJP want free tickets — one MLA set the bar at five each — for the Indian Premier League (IPL) inaugural match to be held in Bengaluru.. The issue came up in the legislative assembly, raised by Leader of Opposition R Ashoka, who got support from across the board.. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar referred to a legendary Mauryan king as he said he would raise it with the Karnataka State Cricket Association. “I will surely tell them this is a request from ‘Samrat Ashok’,” he said in jest inside the assembly, NDTV reported.. IPL 2026 starts this Saturday with a match between home team Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad.. Vijayanand Kashappanavar, the Congress MLA from Hungund, later explained why KSCA must give special treatment to MLAs. “They (cricket association) are taking all the facilities from the government. They are getting all the security, everything… But they are not respecting MLAs,” he told the media, as per the report.. “We are VIPs. We can’t go in the queue and stand there. We went last time… They are sending us to a gallery with the public. It’s not going to happen,” he further said.. (In case you did not know from context, VIP is short for ‘Very Important Personality’, used in government protocols too.). Kashappanavar laid out the demand in numbers as he explained how he supported the BJP’s R Ashoka inside the assembly. “We requested the Speaker to take necessary action and issue a minimum of five tickets for the MLAs,” he said. He also claimed the KSCA was “collecting money and enjoying”.. Inside the House, R Ashoka also slammed the KSCA. “We have given them 16.32 acres of land at a nominal price of just about ₹1,600 a month; but they charge us thousands for match tickets. They have crores of rupees and they loot us; and the government wants to build another stadium for such people. They need to be taught a lesson,” he said.. Speaker UT Khader told the government to hold discussions with the KSCA “regarding this issue that MLAs are raising”. “They sometimes give just one ticket to MLAs… they should give a minimum of four tickets to the MLA and family,” Khader said, tempering the demand to a number lower than five.. At this, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar said: “I will speak to the KSCA president and sort this out. I’m a member there too.”. Former Team India pacer Venkatesh Prasad is the current president of the KSCA. 

 Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Thursday withdrew four bills introduced in December to increase threefold the salaries of MLAs, ministers, speaker and deputy speaker.. A view of the Odisha assembly.. In an official communication, state assembly secretary Satyabrata Rout informed members that parliamentary affairs minister Mukesh Mahaling had given notice to withdraw the four amendments, which had triggered widespread discontent across the state.. The bills slated for withdrawal include the Odisha Legislative Assembly Members’ Salary, Allowances and Pension (Amendment) Bill, 2025; the Speaker’s Salary and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2025; the Deputy Speaker’s Salary and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2025; and the Odisha Ministers’ Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2025.. The four legislations, passed in December 2025, had proposed raising MLAs’ monthly remuneration from about ₹1.11 lakh to ₹3.45 lakh. Under the revised structure, the chief minister’s monthly pay was pegged at ₹3.74 lakh, the deputy chief minister at ₹3.68 lakh, cabinet ministers at ₹3.62 lakh and ministers of state at ₹3.56 lakh. The speaker’s remuneration was fixed at ₹3.68 lakh, while the deputy speaker was to receive ₹3.56 lakh. The leader of the opposition and government chief whip were each assigned monthly packages of ₹3.62 lakh.. The government had earlier defended the hike, stating that the revision came after an eight-year gap and accounted for inflationary pressures. However, the 211 % hike drew sharp criticism from citizens and the opposition, sparking a broader public debate over the timing and necessity of the move.. After the bills were passed, Biju Janata Dal president and leader of opposition Naveen Patnaik had written to CM Majhi stating he would forego the enhanced salary and allowances applicable to his post, a move that drew attention in the state’s political discourse.. The development was followed by appeals from legislators across party lines, including members of the ruling BJP and the opposition BJD, urging the chief minister to reconsider the salary revisions for MLAs, ministers and constitutional office-bearers.