Noidas Jewar airport construction work on fast-track; when will it start operations?
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath inspected the Noida International Airport, pushing for fast-tracked aerodrome and security licensing. He reviewed progress, security, and launch preparations, emphasising quality. With PM Modi's reported December 15 inauguration and commercial flights by December 31, the ambitious Jewar airport is in its final construction phase.
New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday carried out a comprehensive on-site inspection of the under-construction Noida International Airport in Jewar and took stock of the progress. He also held a high-level meeting with senior officials. A December 2 deadline has been set to complete all construction work.
The CM was accompanied by Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu. Adityanath inspected the terminal building, the planned inauguration venue, security systems, traffic arrangements, and ongoing construction work.
During the inspection, Adityanath noted that the airport still didn't have an aerodrome licence and directed officials to fast-track coordination with the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the CISF, and complete all outstanding security compliance work.
The CM said, "The Noida International Airport is an ambitious project of the state. Any remaining security or operational requirements must be completed at the earliest and with the highest standards of quality.” He also directed teams to make sure that all preparations for the launch event are completed on time.
When will operations begin?
The greenfield airport is being built under a public-private partnership by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited, a subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG. Phase one spans almost 1,300 hectares, with one runway and a terminal building. Even though operations are likely to begin by end of 2025, an official launch date for phase one has not yet been announced. By December 2, the airport is set to get security licence and by December 4, the aerodrome licence is expected to be issued. On December 15, the airport will likely be inaugurated, reports said. It is expected that the first commercial flight will take off on December 31.
Construction of the airport has entered its final phase: the passenger terminal’s roofing is complete, and several technical trials are in the process. Once fully developed, the airport is set to expand to five runways across 11,750 acres, with the capacity to handle over 300 million passengers annually.
What were the checks undertaken?
It was on November 23 that Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL) said the BCAS had carried out a review of the airport’s security standards as part of the process for securing the licence. A BCAS standing committee undertook a two-day examination of the airport’s security arrangements, including screening systems, surveillance cameras, access-control points and the perimeter.
As per the aerodrome manual, the airport must meet a number of requirements before it gets the licence. These include certified runway strength, compliant safety areas, functional taxiways and aprons, adequate lighting and navigational aids, and updated meteorological and aeronautical data.
It must also show operational readiness by having trained staff, an appointed accountable manager, adequate fire and rescue cover, emergency response plans in place, system to manage wildlife hazard, and fully deployed ground-handling and security systems. After the first round on October 31, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) finished the second round of flight calibration tests on November 4.
On September 15, BCAS gave its clearance for the airport’s security preparedness. The Airports Authority of India has already checked the installation of communication, navigation and surveillance/air traffic management systems.