LUCKNOW, June 16 -- Welcoming the 170 farmers who boarded one of the first commercial flights from Noida International Airport in Jewar to Lucknow on Monday, chief minister Yogi Adityanath reflected on Jewar's transformation from a largely agrarian region into an emerging aviation, logistics and industrial hub.

The farmers, including 28 women, were welcomed at the chief minister's residence in Lucknow.

Addressing the gathering, Adityanath said, "Today, even Kuber wants to come to Jewar."

He used the metaphor of the Hindu god of wealth to illustrate the scale of opportunities emerging in the region as he contrasted the present with conditions that he said existed nearly a decade ago, when the area lacked adequate infrastructure, employm...