The Uttar Pradesh government has allocated nearly 50% of its civil aviation budget to the development of Noida International Airport in Jewar. Out of the total Rs 31.52 billion budget, Rs 15.5 billion has been earmarked for land acquisition, rehabilitation, and resettlement for the airport, which is set for commercial launch in April 2025. An additional Rs 500 million is proposed for ongoing construction activities. For the airport’s second phase, 1,365 hectares have already been acquired, while the first phase — featuring a 3,900-meter runway, ATC, cargo area, and a terminal designed to handle 12 million passengers annually — is nearing completion. The third and fourth phases will require 2,053 hectares, mostly from private farmland. Beyond Noida Airport, the state is investing Rs 11 billion in expanding airports in Varanasi, Aligarh, Shravasti, and Gorakhpur. Varanasi’s LBS International Airport will get an extended runway of 4,075 meters, with NH-31 passing through a tunnel underneath — the first such infrastructure in India. UP currently has 16 operational airports, up from just four in 2017. The government has also allocated Rs 900 million for air service improvements and Rs 200 million for the Regional Connectivity Scheme to make air travel more accessible in underserved areas. (english.mathrubhumi)