02-05-2025
Noida International Airport Faces Delays, Now Aims For June 2025 Completion
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Noida International Airport CEO said that the domestic terminal is nearly ready, while the international terminal is around 75% complete.
The much-anticipated Noida International Airport, initially slated for completion by September 29 last year, remains an unfinished ambition. Officials now pin their hopes on a new deadline: June 30, 2025. Yet, with construction visibly lagging, skepticism is mounting both within government corridors and among stakeholders on the ground.
Acknowledging the mounting concerns, Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh convened a high-level meeting this week, directing all parties to accelerate efforts. Tata Projects Limited, the firm responsible for construction, assured the government that the revised deadline would be met. To bolster confidence, the company presented a 'catch-up plan", vowing to compensate for the months-long delay by intensifying labour and operations.
According to Tata Projects, an additional 2,000 workers are being mobilised from other construction sites to expedite progress at the airport. Currently, around 6,500 workers are deployed, though the figure temporarily dipped during the harvesting season as many labourers returned to their villages. Despite manpower challenges, the company maintains that 90% of the physical construction is already complete.
Major structural components including the runway, airside infrastructure, and 10 aerobridges are largely finished. Installation of the baggage handling system, lifts, and signage has also been completed. Final touches, such as imported textile panels for the international terminal, are being prepared in Mumbai.
However, significant hurdles remain. The water treatment plant (WTP) and sewage treatment plant (STP) – both critical to operational readiness – are far from completion, standing at just 40% and 43%, respectively. The situation worsened after two contractors abandoned the project midway, leaving Tata Projects scrambling to find replacements and avoid further delays.
Arun Veer Singh, CEO of Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL), expressed optimism about the pace of terminal construction. He confirmed that the domestic terminal is nearly ready, while the international terminal is around 75% complete, with roofing work currently underway on the upper floor.
A crucial milestone looms on May 10, when a joint team from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is scheduled to inspect the site. The inspection will evaluate the airport's readiness for aerodrome licensing following the 70-day Aeronautical Information Publication process. BCAS has indicated it will issue the necessary security clearance within 45 days of receiving all required documentation.
The DGCA is currently weighing three phased operational scenarios: beginning with cargo operations on May 15, permitting limited passenger flights, or launching full Phase-1 services.
Meanwhile, financial penalties have started to stack up. From January 1, 2025, the Uttar Pradesh government has been imposing a daily fine of Rs 10 lakh on Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), the airport's concessionaire, deducting it from their performance guarantee. In turn, YIAPL has reportedly passed on penalty charges to Tata Projects, reflecting the mounting pressure across all tiers of the project.
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