Jewar's Jackpot: Half the Aviation Budget Flies to Noida Airport.

The government has made the Noida International Airport a priority, dedicating nearly 50% of the civil aviation budget to land acquisition in Jewar.

Out of the Rs 3,152 crore allocated for civil aviation, Rs 1,550 crore will go towards land acquisition, rehabilitation, and resettlement efforts for the airport, which is expected to begin commercial operations in April.

A total of 2,053 hectares of land will be acquired in the third and fourth phases, including 1,889 hectares of private farmland. The second phase has already acquired 1,365 hectares, while the first phase, nearing completion, includes a 3,900-meter runway, an air traffic control tower (ATC), a cargo area, and a terminal capable of handling 12 million passengers annually.

Beyond Noida, the Budget has allocated Rs 1,100 crore for the expansion of airports in Varanasi, Aligarh, Shravasti, Gorakhpur, and Agra. Notably, Varanasi’s LBS International Airport will feature India’s first elevated runway, with NH-31 passing beneath it. The runway will be extended to 4,075 meters, while significant upgrades are also planned for Aligarh and Shravasti airports. Additionally, Rs 7 crore has been set aside for the development of Ayodhya airport.

News by Rahul Yelligetti