New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the first phase of the Noida International Airport in Jewar, marking a major boost to air connectivity in north India and positioning the facility as the second international gateway for the Delhi-NCR region.

The greenfield airport, located in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddha Nagar district, is expected to significantly ease congestion at the Indira Gandhi International Airport while expanding passenger and cargo capacity in one of the country’s busiest aviation corridors. 

In its first phase, built at an estimated cost of over Rs 11,000 crore, the airport will be able to handle around 1.2 crore passengers annually, with a single runway and terminal currently operational. The project is planned to be expanded in phases to eventually cater to up to 7 crore passengers a year, making it one of India’s largest aviation hubs. 

Addressing a public gathering after the inauguration, Modi said the airport would serve as a “gateway to global connectivity” for western Uttar Pradesh and nearby regions, creating new opportunities for farmers, small businesses and youth. He also highlighted that the facility would strengthen logistics and cargo movement, emerging as a key hub for trade and industry. 

Strategically located along the Yamuna Expressway, the airport has been designed as a multi-modal transport hub with planned integration of road, rail and metro networks, aimed at seamless connectivity across the NCR. Officials said the project also incorporates sustainability features and is being developed as an eco-friendly, net-zero emissions airport. 

While the inauguration marks the completion of Phase I, commercial flight operations are expected to begin in the coming weeks, subject to regulatory approvals, with several domestic carriers likely to commence services. 

The launch of the Jewar airport is being seen as a landmark infrastructure milestone for Uttar Pradesh, with the state government projecting it as a catalyst for economic growth, job creation, and regional development, as well as a critical step towards strengthening India’s aviation ecosystem. 

BI Bureau