CM Yogi Reviews Final Preparations for Noida International Airport Ahead of PM Modi’s Inauguration

Ahead of the inauguration of the Noida International Airport in Jewar by Prime Minister Narendra Modi likely soon, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today conducted a site inspection to take stock of the work in progress.

He closely reviewed the progress of the domestic terminal, inauguration venue, security arrangements, traffic management, and ongoing construction works.

Following the inspection, the Chief Minister chaired a high-level review meeting with senior officials from the district and police administration, Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL), and the airport construction agency. A presentation was given on project progress, upcoming action plans, and preparations for the inauguration.

CM Yogi said the Noida International Airport will serve as a symbol of Uttar Pradesh’s development, emphasizing that quality, timeliness, and coordination must remain top priorities in all construction activities. He directed that every task be completed within the stipulated time frame, maintaining the highest standards, and warned against any form of laxity in inauguration preparations.

He stressed the importance of beautification, cleanliness, and passenger amenities across the airport complex and surrounding areas. The Chief Minister also called for a concrete, coordinated plan for security and traffic management, along with the timely completion of connecting roads and metro projects.

Additionally, CM Yogi reviewed preparations for the upcoming public meeting and rally.

Christoph Schnellmann, CEO of Yamuna International Airport Private Limited, apprised the Chief Minister of developments related to civil aviation, security, the explosives squad, among others.

The Noida International Airport at Jewar, spread over 3,300 acres, is all set for inauguration. So far, 6,700 acres have been acquired, with the remaining 5,100 acres to be acquired within the next three months. The land acquisition cost stands at approximately Rs 5,000 crore, while the construction cost is about Rs 7,000 crore.

At the time of inauguration, the airport will operate with one runway, capable of handling 12 million passengers annually and an average of 150 flights per day. Once passenger traffic exceeds 10 million, work on the second runway will commence, eventually enabling the two runways to serve 70 million passengers. At full capacity, Jewar Airport will feature five runways spread over 11,750 acres and handle up to 300 million passengers annually, making it one of the largest airports in the world.

Uttar Pradesh currently has 24 airports, of which 16 are operational. The Jewar Airport is complete and set for inauguration soon, while seven more airports are under construction. Operational airports include Agra, Bareilly (Trishul), Gorakhpur, Hindon (Ghaziabad), Prayagraj, Kanpur, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Moradabad, Shravasti, Chitrakoot, and Saharanpur for domestic flights, while Lucknow, Varanasi, Kushinagar, and Ayodhya serve international routes.

With the opening of Noida International Airport, Uttar Pradesh will become the only state in India with five international airports.

Airports under construction in Sonbhadra, Lalitpur, Meerut, Ghazipur, Jhansi, Amethi, and Palia are progressing rapidly, further strengthening the state’s air connectivity and tourism potential.

The inauguration of Noida International Airport is projected to generate around 1 lakh direct and indirect jobs. Enhanced air connectivity has boosted tourism, with pilgrim cities like Ayodhya and Varanasi witnessing a 30% rise in tourist arrivals. The state attracted over 500 million tourists in 2023, with 20% arriving by air. Improved air cargo services have accelerated exports from Varanasi and Agra, while Jewar Airport has driven industrial growth and a 20–30% increase in real estate values in the NCR–UP region.

Today, the aviation sector contributes 2–3% to Uttar Pradesh’s GDP, up from less than 1% before 2017. The UDAN scheme has further opened business opportunities in smaller cities such as Aligarh and Azamgarh. With 24 airports, Uttar Pradesh is poised to capture a 10–15% share of India’s projected 3–3.5 billion passengers in the coming years.