Few had heard of Jewar, a town in the Gautam Budh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh before it was selected as the site for Noida International Airport (NIA), which is expected to be operational by the end of 2024. The airport offers to serve as an alternative to Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi by relieving its high and rising traffic load of domestic and international travelers. Planned to be India’s and Asia’s largest airport, NIA is being developed through a public-private partnership (PPP) model with the Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL) as the implementing agency.

The NIA will handle 1.2 crore (12 million) passengers per annum initially and up to 6-12 crore passengers per annum after its expansion over a period of 30 years. It will be the third commercial airport in the National Capital Region (NCR) after IGIA and Hindon Airport. Envisioned as a robust hub for domestic and international flights, NIA aims to accommodate India’s surging air travel needs, enhance regional connectivity, and act as a catalyst for economic development. As of 2023, the cumulative passenger traffic at airports across the country exceeded 327 million, including nearly 57 million international passengers. ICRA, a leading rating agency, estimates that India’s air passenger traffic is expected to reach a range of 373–380 million by the fiscal year 2024, necessitating the building of new airports.

Background

The project was first proposed in 2001 by the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Rajnath Singh, as the Taj International Aviation Hub (TIAH) in Jewar. However, in 2012, it was shelved by the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, as he planned to build a new airport near Tundla, Firozabad District. The project was revived in 2018 by the BJP government, with an allocation of Rs 1,260 crore for land acquisition. In 2019, the land acquisition for the phase-1 commenced, and was completed in 2020. Flughafen Zürich AG, the operator of Zurich Airport in Switzerland, was given the contract for developing and operating the airport for 40 years, and the tender for 760 metre (2,490 ft) road connecting the airport to the Yamuna Expressway was awarded.  After the Airports Authority of India (AAI) approved the master plan for the airport, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for it in 2021. In 2022, the Tata Projects Limited was awarded the civil construction contract. In 2023, the airport was awarded the airport code “DXN” by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Phase-I of the airport features two modern terminals, Terminal 1 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international flights. Each terminal boasts spacious lounges, efficient check-in counters, and top-notch baggage handling systems. The infrastructure in the NIA area has been upgraded to meet international standards, with the construction of new terminals, runways, and other essential facilities

Terminal Facilities: Phase-I of NIA features two modern terminals, Terminal 1 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international flights. Each terminal boasts spacious lounges, efficient check-in counters, and top-notch baggage handling systems. The infrastructure in the NIA area has been upgraded to meet international standards, with the construction of new terminals, runways, and other essential facilities.

Airlines: The NIA will serve as a major gateway for leading airlines from around the world, offering a wide array of flight options to various destinations. The airline partners include renowned international carriers such as Emirates, British Airways, Air France, and Singapore Airlines, as well as domestic airlines such as Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet.

Road Connectivity: The NIA shall be connected with various highways in Delhi-NCR such as Ghaziabad–Bulandshahr–Aligarh (NH-34) and Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut Expressway.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is also constructing a 31 km (19 miles) long highway, which will connect Jewar Airport with Sector-65 of Faridabad on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway.

The Greenfield alignment is as follows (east to west): Yamuna Expressway at Dayanatpur village, Jewar; KGP Expressway at Mohna village, Ballabhgarh and Delhi–Mumbai Expressway at Sector-65, Faridabad.

Railway & Metro Train Connectivity: Noida International Airport is also proposed to be connected to Noida Metro via the Greater Noida route; and the Delhi Metro via the Faridabad–Ballabhgarh–Palwal–Jewar route.

The dedicated cargo terminal will ensure the efficient and secure handling of goods, with state-of-the-art storage facilities and specialised equipment. With strict adherence to international cargo handling guidelines and efficient customs clearance procedures, the airport will be instrumental in promoting seamless global trade

“Ghaziabad-Jewar Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS)”, with 11 stations costing Rs. 16,000 crore, has been approved.

“Palwal-Noida International Airport-Khurja Railway” (PNAKR line), a 61 km long line, will have a new railway station at Noida airport which will be connected to Palwal, 28 km to the west, on New Delhi-Mumbai main line and Khurja, 33 km to the east, on Howrah–Delhi main line (Amritsar-Kolkata line).

The NIA will be directly connected with IGI (via “Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor“(HORC) and “Delhi-Jaipur line“) and Hisar Airport (via HORC and “Hisar International Airport-IGI Airport line” (HIAIGI Line) through Jhajjar-Rohtak-Hansi-Hisar).

“Noida International Airport-Chola Railway”, a 20 km long line, will connect multi logistics at Noida airport to the existing Chola Railway Station, Bulandshahr to the west on the “Howrah–Delhi main line”.

A High-Speed Railway (HSR) station has been included in the proposed Delhi-Varanasi HSR corridor.

Cargo Handling: The NIA will excel in its cargo handling capabilities, serving as a vital link for the transportation of goods and fostering trade relationships. The dedicated cargo terminal will ensure the efficient and secure handling of goods, with state-of-the-art storage facilities and specialised equipment. With strict adherence to international cargo handling guidelines and efficient customs clearance procedures, NIA will be instrumental in promoting seamless global trade.

Ancillary Services: From luxurious lounges, duty-free shopping outlets, and fine dining establishments to car rental services and travel assistance desks, the NIA will provide s range of premium ancillary services designed to enhance the travel experience.

The Board of Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has approved the plan for an Aerocity-like Aerotropolis next to the Noida Airport, spread over 6,500 hectares, which is over four times the size of the airport’s first phase. The Aerotropolis has been envisioned as a “self-sufficient” hub with business, recreation, commercial and hospitality zones, and other supporting activities connected with major transportation routes.

The Noida International Airport has implemented eco-friendly initiatives such as efficient waste management systems, renewable energy sources, and water conservation practices to minimise its carbon footprint. With its commitment to sustainable operations, the airport aims to serve as a shining example of responsible aviation infrastructure

Environmental Responsibilities: The NIA has implemented eco-friendly initiatives such as efficient waste management systems, renewable energy sources, and water conservation practices to minimise its carbon footprint. With its commitment to sustainable operations, NIA aims to serve as a shining example of responsible aviation infrastructure.

Conclusion

With the NIA near completion, the dynamics of the NCR region are experiencing growth and development. However, infrastructure and connectivity challenges also loom large for the Jewar airport. The proposed 72.3km rapid rail corridor connecting the NIA to Delhi and other parts of the NCR will extend from the Ghaziabad rapid rail station on the Delhi-Meerut line, but it is a long-term plan, expected to be completed by 2041. The first phase will cover a 37.2km stretch between Ghaziabad and Ecotech VI or Kasna by 2031, followed by a 35.1km route from Ecotech VI to the Noida airport over the next decade. Additionally, the extension of the current metro line to ensure connectivity from Noida and Greater Noida is in the planning stage, which does not sound well for the passengers who will have to battle road traffic woes to reach the airport.

-The writer is a thinker, keen observer of domestic and global economic, geopolitical development trends and a change manager with more than two decades of corporate experience