₹11,200 Crore Airport to Open to Flyers Soon
Gautam Buddha Nagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated Phase I of the Noida International Airport at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh, a ₹11,200 crore greenfield project that is expected to begin commercial flight operations within weeks, marking the start of passenger and cargo services from the new facility.
The first phase includes a single runway and a terminal with an initial capacity of about 12 million passengers annually, along with cargo handling infrastructure. For travellers and businesses, the inauguration means a second major aviation hub for the National Capital Region will soon become functional, offering an alternative to Delhi’s existing airport and improving access to air travel for residents of western Uttar Pradesh and nearby areas.
The airport, located in Gautam Buddh Nagar district and developed by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited, a subsidiary of Zurich Airport International, is planned as a multi-phase project. On full completion over the next decade, it is expected to expand to multiple runways with a projected capacity of up to 70 million passengers annually.
Beyond passenger services, the airport is being integrated into a wider multi-modal logistics network. The region is emerging as a hub for two dedicated freight corridors—rail-based goods routes connecting northern India to ports on the eastern coast in Bengal and the western coast in Gujarat. Dadri, where the corridors intersect, will enable faster movement of agricultural and industrial goods by rail and air, improving export access and supply chains. This combined connectivity is expected to support the industry and attract investment.
The project is intended to ease congestion at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and improve connectivity across the National Capital Region and districts such as Agra, Mathura, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Etawah, Bulandshahr and Faridabad.
Speaking at the inauguration, Modi said the airport would create opportunities for farmers, small and medium enterprises and youth by linking the region to global markets. He said Uttar Pradesh had emerged among the states with the highest number of international airports in India.
He also referred to recent infrastructure developments in the region, including a semiconductor manufacturing project in Noida, the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat rail corridor and the expansion of the Meerut Metro, describing them as part of efforts to strengthen connectivity and economic growth.
The Prime Minister said the airport project had originally been approved in 2003 during the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and had progressed to completion of its first phase after subsequent delays.
Referring to global developments, Modi said the ongoing conflict in West Asia had disrupted supplies of fuel, fertilisers and essential commodities, noting that India imports a significant share of crude oil and gas from the region. He said the government was taking steps to mitigate the impact on households and farmers.
He acknowledged the contribution of farmers who provided land for the project and said improved connectivity would support agricultural exports and food processing in western Uttar Pradesh. He also referred to ethanol production from sugarcane, stating that increased blending had reduced crude oil imports and generated foreign exchange savings.
Highlighting aviation growth, Modi said India now has more than 160 airports and that Uttar Pradesh has 17, with expanded connectivity to smaller cities. He said regional connectivity schemes had made air travel more accessible and that further expansion of airports and helipads was planned.
He also noted that a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility is planned at Jewar to reduce dependence on overseas servicing of aircraft and generate employment.
During the event, the Prime Minister invited attendees to symbolically participate in the inauguration using mobile phone flashlights, describing the airport as a shared public asset.
He called for unity in addressing global challenges and urged political consensus and public cooperation.
-global bihari bureau
