Noida, March 20, 2025: Noida’s much-awaited Jewar Airport is set to see domestic flights operating from as early as May 15, with the state government UP govt directing the concessionaire of Noida International Airport to speed up work. For The international flights, the government has set a target date of June 25.
The state government’s move came at review meet on March 10 marked Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s dismay at the delay in the airport’s construction, in particular the terminal building.
Noida’s vaunted airport is six months behind schedule; the deadline was September 29 last year. This was changed to April 2025, and even that doesn’t seem possible now. The chief minister has stressed the terms of the contract agreement on delay penalties and stipulated fine of INR 10 lakh per day on concessionaire Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), a 100% subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, responsible for developing the Noida International Airport (NIA) at Jewar.
The penalty – effective from January 1 – which features a three-month grace period will amount to INR 3 crore every month, starting January this year. Arun Vir Singh, CEO of Noida International Airport Ltd, told a prominent daily that the “concession agreement for the airport was signed in October 2020 when the right of way was provided, meaning land was officially handed over to the concessionaire. Since the appointment date was during the Covid period, the project experienced initial setbacks”.
Outlining the progress since then he added that the construction contract was awarded to Tata Projects in June 2022. “Considering these circumstances, we allowed a grace period of three months. The daily penalty of INR 10 lakh has been enforced and will continue till the airport becomes operational,” he was quoted by the daily as saying.
NIAL now wants YIAPL to draw up a plan that ensures the third revised deadline is not missed. The delay at Jewar is largely because of the terminal building. International flights will come later because that part of the airport will take some longer complete. The airport will commence operations with just six aerobridges instead of the originally envisaged 10.
Tata Projects, which has the engineering contracts for the airport, is reported to have attributed the delay to an extended monsoon last year.
The pace of the terminal building’s construction has been affected by the complicated design of its metal facade. The terminal’s forecourt will resemble the ghats of Varanasi and Haridwar. The design also has a central courtyard to allow light and air into the building. The concept of a wavy roof is inspired by rivers.
“All of us are working towards a common goal, which is completion of this project within the revised timeline. The state govt has been an avid supporter of this project from the very beginning. We have established a strong partnership with them and are working hand in hand. We all want the same thing – a world-class airport for western Uttar Pradesh. Govt is focused on providing connectivity, security, utilities, etc. This is a true public-private partnership,” a YIAPL spokesperson was quoted by the daily as saying.