- By Priyanka Koul
- Mon, 15 Jun 2026 05:48 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
GREATER NOIDA: On its opening day, Noida International Airport failed to match the expectations set for its ground connectivity. Despite assurances of seamless transport from day one, passengers were left stranded as state transport buses and local taxis were largely absent from the terminal. The only visible public transport was a fleet of city electric buses, which began operations on June 12.
With no immediate transport options upon arrival, passengers were forced to rely on ride-hailing apps, resulting in long and frustrating waits outside the terminal. Several travellers from nearby areas had to call relatives to arrange transportation home.
Failed promises?
To ensure smooth passenger movement once flight operations began at Noida International Airport, Yamuna International Airport Pvt. Ltd (YIAPL) had earlier signed agreements with multiple state transport authorities, including the Delhi Transport Corporation, as well as the transport corporations of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana.
Although officials had claimed that bus services would begin on June 15, complete with a pre-released route chart, passengers instead found empty bus bays on arrival. Enquiries at the taxi booth also led to disappointment, prompting many travellers to turn to app-based cabs, which brought their own set of challenges.
Standard cab services yet to take off
The issues did not end there. Ride-hailing services also proved unreliable, with multiple cancellations before bookings were eventually accepted. Passengers had to wait 30 to 45 minutes for cabs at the airport.
Garvit Sharma, who arrived from Lucknow on the airport’s inaugural flight, shared his experience:
“I was trying to book a cab for over half an hour with no success. When I checked at the airport counter, I was told that official taxi services are not yet fully operational. If someone flies into Noida for business, they will end up spending more time getting to their final destination than they did in the air.”
Another passenger, Irfan, who travelled from Delhi to Hyderabad, said he had booked a ticket via Noida Airport but had to pay Rs 1,200 for a taxi to reach the airport. He added that after considerable negotiation, the driver agreed to travel to Jewar. In comparison, he noted that a trip to Indira Gandhi International Airport would have cost around Rs 300.
Similarly, Raghavan, a resident of Delhi’s Jor Bagh, also experienced a long wait for a cab at the airport, expressing frustration over the lack of reliable transport options.