The Noida International Airport, originally slated to begin flight operations by September 2024, is now anticipated to launch its services by April 2025 due to construction delays. Recent reports have highlighted delays in the construction work at the greenfield airport, located in the Jewar area of Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar district.
"In view of the current construction status, we expect to begin commercial operations by the end of April 2025. We are working together with our EPC (engineering, procurement and constructions) contractor Tata Projects Limited and with other stakeholders to keep the pace of construction activities and preparations for operational readiness high," the airport said in a statement on Monday.
What did Noida airport authority say?
The airport authority said agreements have been signed with several airlines to establish flight connections from Noida International Airport. They also emphasised that construction work is in advanced stages, despite the delays. This progress indicates a strong commitment to ensuring that the airport will be ready for its new launch date in April 2025, they added. "Construction and development work at Noida International Airport is at an advanced stage and we continue to pass important milestones on the road to operational readiness. This is a large and complex project, and the next few weeks of construction activities are crucial," the airport authority said.
It said that work on the runway, the passenger terminal and the control tower, is "well advanced" and recently, the concessions for ground handling, the operation of commercial areas and important maintenance contracts were awarded. The mega public-private partnership project of the UP government is billed to be India's largest airport upon completion. The airport is to be developed in an area of over 5,000 hectares in four phases.
Work for first phase is underway
It should be mentioned here that the work for the first phase of the airport is underway and was initially expected to be completed by September 2024, paving the way for the commencement of passenger flights from Jewar.In the first phase, the airport will have one runway along with a terminal building with capacity to handle 1.2 crore passengers annually, according to project officials.
(With PTI inputs)
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