Jewar, Taking Off (MAKING OF NOIDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT), Pg 26

Key Highlights:

• The Airports Authority of India (AAI) conducted a successful calibration flight on October 31 at the Noida International Airport in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh.
• The Jewar airport, commissioned in 2021, aims to reduce passenger traffic at Delhi's IGI Airport, which handled approximately 8 crore passengers in 2024.
• Phase one of the Jewar airport project costs Rs 6,500 crore and includes one runway and one terminal, with an expected initial capacity of 1.2 crore passengers annually.
• The Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), a subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, is overseeing the development of the Jewar airport.

Detailed Insights:

• The Jewar airport is strategically located 85 km from IGI airport, 50 km from Noida, and 87 km from Hindon airport, aiming to serve passengers from western Uttar Pradesh and reduce travel time to tourist destinations like Agra, Mathura, and Vrindavan.
• The airport's design incorporates elements of Indian heritage and culture, such as red sandstone for the terminal building, a wavy roof inspired by regional rivers, and steps mimicking the ghats of Varanasi and Haridwar.
• The project faced challenges during the pandemic, requiring the team to adopt video conferencing for planning and design, with architects and team members collaborating remotely.
• Land acquisition for the airport involved rehabilitating residents from six villages, with compensation packages increasing over time in response to rising land prices and villager demands.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Greenfield Airport: An airport that is newly constructed on an undeveloped site.
• Calibration Flight: A test flight to evaluate and adjust the accuracy of an airport's navigation and communication systems.
• Obstacle Limitation Surfaces Survey (OLS): A survey to identify potential obstructions around an airport that could pose a safety risk to aircraft.