Noida International Airport Ready For Takeoff After 24-Year Wait; Awaits PMO Nod And Aerodrome Licence

After a wait of two and a half decades, the Noida International Airport in Jewar is finally ready for operations. Set to become Asia’s largest and the world’s fourth-largest international airport, the facility is currently awaiting its aerodrome licence and a confirmed date from the Prime Minister's Office for its inauguration.

A 24-Year Saga Of Delays And Location Shifts

The journey to complete this massive infrastructure project has spanned 24 years, witnessing numerous political shifts and proposed relocations. Over the decades, central and state governments considered shifting the airport from Jewar to various locations, including Hirangaon, Hisar, Jhajjar, Agra, and Mathura. However, the project finally materialized under the development model of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Political Timeline: From Inception To Execution

1. The Vision (2001 - 2008): The dream of an airport in Jewar was first envisioned in 2001 by current Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who was then the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He submitted the initial proposal to the central government. Later, in 2008, BSP supremo Mayawati revived the proposal for Jewar, which is her home district. Her government reserved 5,000 hectares of land with the Yamuna Authority for the project. However, the proposal failed to gain traction as the then Congress-led central government showed no interest.

2. The Stalled Years (2012 - 2016): In 2012, the Samajwadi Party government led by Akhilesh Yadav completely halted the Jewar project. Instead, the state government proposed alternative locations to the center, such as Hirangaon in Tundla and Etmadpur in Agra. In 2015, the project gained momentum again when local MP Dr. Mahesh Sharma became the Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation. However, due to a lack of coordination with the Samajwadi Party government in the state, the project could not be initiated at that time.

3. The Turnaround (2017 Onwards): The project finally commenced after the BJP formed governments at both the Centre and the State. Following the BJP's full majority win in the 2017 UP assembly elections:

- Union Minister Dr Mahesh Sharma met with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

- Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh strongly raised the demand for the airport.

- Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath officially announced the construction of the airport in Jewar.

Following the successful acquisition of land without any disputes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone on November 25, 2021. Just four years later, the airport stands ready.

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Timeline: The 24-Year History of Noida International Airport

2001: UP CM Rajnath Singh sends the first proposal for an airport in Jewar to the Centre.

2008: CM Mayawati sends a fresh proposal to the Centre; land is reserved.

2012: The Akhilesh Yadav government shelves the Jewar project.

2013: The State government proposes an airport in Hirangaon, Tundla.

2014: The State government proposes an airport in Etmadpur, Agra.

2017: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announces the construction of the airport in Jewar.

May 2018: The Ministry of Civil Aviation grants in-principle approval for construction.

2019: Zurich International is awarded the contract to develop and operate the airport for 40 years.

2020: Acquisition of 1,239 hectares of land from six villages in Jewar is completed.

November 25, 2021: Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays the foundation stone.

Present: The airport is construction-ready, awaiting the aerodrome licence and official inauguration.

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