17 Jan 2020
Construction work of Jewar Airport set to start in February 2020
After winning the bid to build the project recently, officials of Zurich Airport International on January 15 reportedly visited the project site and discussed the master plan with the brass of the Noida International Airport (NIAL). It is known that the Swiss company would soon apply to the Union home ministry for a safety clearance for the airport project, work on which is set to start in February this year, as per a Proptiger.com report.
The Uttar Pradesh Government on December 16, 2019, handed over the conditional letter of award to CEO Daniel Bircher, days after his Zurich Airport International AG won the bid to build the NCR’s third airport in Jewar. On December 9, 2019, the state cabinet approved Zurich Airport International as the developer for the Jewar Airport. Zurich Airport beat Delhi International Airport (DIAL), Adani Enterprises and Anchorage Infrastructure Investments Holdings, to win the bid to build the airport project, touted to be a game-changer for Noida's real estate.
The foundation stone for the airport project, that was first conceived in 2001 and received approval only over a decade-and-half later, will entail the development of 2,200 acre and would be operational by 2023. With that, the NCR will get the distinction of hosting two airports within a 100-km radius.
That is not all. The arrival of the airport would bless this property market with several other infrastructural developments. The Jewar Airport will have an Aerocity on the lines of the one at the IGI airport. Plans are also in the works to link the $-3.1 billion Jewar airport with the Delhi’s Metro’s Aqua Line by 2025. The government is also considering the possibility of linking the airport with Sarai Kale Khan, a major bus transit station in the national capital, through a dedicated Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS). At a later stage, the Jewar airport could be connected with the Eastern Peripheral Expressway that joins Haryana's Palwal with Kundli, bypassing the national capital.
According to PwC – the agency that has prepared the techno-economic feasibility report for the project – the Jewar Airport is expected to handle over 10 crore passengers by 2050, serving 37 domestic and 31 international destinations.
Currently, people living in many cities of western UP and some cities of Rajasthan have to travel to Delhi — a journey of at least two hours — if they plan air travel. An airport in Jewar will be a great help for these people. This airport will not only address the aviation needs of Delhi but also of cities such as Agra, Mathura, Bulandshahr and Meerut. The Union civil aviation ministry expects this airport to give bolster tourism and economic potential of the region.
As it takes shape physically, the project, which is expected to generate millions of job opportunities, would improve investor sentiment and usher in that positive vibe Noida needs, all in due course.
