Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conducted a comprehensive on-site inspection of the under-construction Noida International Airport in Jewar on Thursday, urging all involved agencies to accelerate remaining tasks and ensure operations commence before December 15, 2025. The visit, his second in a month following a detailed review on October 25, focused on critical elements such as the terminal building, runway, security systems, traffic management, and ongoing construction.

Adityanath emphasized wrapping up pending security compliance immediately, stating that he had discussed the timeline with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, positioning December 15 as a potential inauguration date. The directive came during a high-level review meeting attended by Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, alongside senior officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and Noida International Airport Ltd (NIAL).

NIAL officials confirmed the project is in its advanced final phase, with major infrastructure—including the 3.9 km runway, taxiways, terminal building, air traffic control tower, and support systems—now complete and undergoing technical trials. The BCAS completed a two-day security audit on November 24-25, assessing CISF readiness, surveillance networks, access controls, and boundary security, while identifying minor enhancements like additional CCTV cameras and eight watchtowers along the 18 km perimeter wall.

These compliance points are slated for resolution by December 2, after which the DGCA has committed to issuing the aerodrome license within 24 hours. "We are on track," affirmed Shailendra Bhatia, NIAL's nodal officer, noting that the license issuance will enable swift coordination for the inauguration between state and central governments.

Envisioned as the National Capital Region's second major gateway after Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, the greenfield facility—developed under a public-private partnership by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited, a subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG—promises to alleviate severe congestion at IGI, which handles over 70 million passengers annually.

Phase one, spanning 1,300 hectares and costing Rs 10,056 crore, will feature a single runway and terminal capable of accommodating 12 million passengers per year initially, with provisions for both domestic and international flights. Located strategically 72 km from IGI, 40 km from Noida, and 28 km from Greater Noida, the airport will enhance connectivity for western Uttar Pradesh, Agra, and parts of Haryana, supported by upcoming links like the Yamuna Expressway, Noida-Faridabad Expressway, and regional rapid transit systems.

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While the aerodrome license and inauguration appear imminent, commercial flights are projected to launch in early 2026, allowing airlines at least a month post-licensing for slot allocations, schedule adjustments, and passenger-handling setups. Initial services will prioritize daytime domestic and cargo operations, with airlines like IndiGo and SpiceJet expressing interest in inaugural routes. The project's evolution from a 2001 proposal—delayed by land acquisition hurdles and political shifts—to this near-completion stage underscores Uttar Pradesh's infrastructure push, expected to generate over 10,000 jobs and attract investments in aviation, logistics, and tourism. As trials for baggage systems and boarding procedures continue, the Jewar airport stands poised to redefine regional air travel dynamics.

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