Wings of progress

The international airport inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Noida, UP, is creating a new history in the Indian aviation sector. The inauguration of the first phase was completed. The construction of the airport will be completed by 2050. The airport will then become the largest in Asia. The airport, spread over 3296 acres, has one runway and a terminal completed in the first phase. To cut the time of passengers, state-of-the-art digital systems have been set up here that can complete check-in in just 10 minutes. Another special feature is the 'single terminal' design that helps avoid long walks inside the airport. Biometric systems and smart security gates have been set up to ensure paperless travel.

The Noida airport is the third in the National Capital Region (NCR). Apart from New Delhi, there are services from Hindon airport in UP. Domestic services will start in the first phase. This will start in mid-April. International services are scheduled to start in September. With the full start of domestic and international services, the new airport will also help reduce congestion at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. A 3900-meter runway was developed in the first phase. Modern navigation facilities, including an instrument landing system, have been installed to operate 24 hours a day in all weather conditions.

Inaugurating the new international airport, the Prime Minister said that airports provide wings to progress along with infrastructure in any country. The project was first approved by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's cabinet in 2003. The construction of the airport was started by the BJP government. The Noida airport will benefit the connectivity of Agra, Madurai, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Etawah and Faridabad. Rs 11,200 crore was spent on the completion of the first phase. Under the UDAN scheme, 100 new airports and 200 new helipads will be built in the country with the aim of making air travel accessible to the common man.

Another attraction of Noida International Airport is its state-of-the-art parking arrangements that prioritise passenger convenience. The parking area, located right next to the terminal building, can accommodate up to 1200 cars at a time.

Lifts and escalators have been installed at all strategic locations. This will help those arriving with heavy luggage to move around without any hassle.

The arrival and departure sections of the airport are housed in the same building, eliminating the hassle of moving between different buildings. To increase operational efficiency, the terminal is divided into two levels. The upper floor is reserved for departures and the lower floor for arrivals. A spacious food court is also part of the airport. It is a matter of pride that an international airport is becoming reality in the national capital region.