NOIDA: Noida International Airport is only four months away from launch. But even before you take the first flight from there, the question that is unlikely to have escaped your mind already is — how do I get to the airport in the first place?
Jewar, where the airport is located, is around 90km from IGI Airport in Delhi, 70km from Connaught Place, 60km from Noida City Centre and 40km from Pari Chowk in Greater Noida, the last point on the metro grid.
The airport’s feasibility will depend on its first phase footfall, for which the target is 5-6 million passengers in the first year. For this to happen, the next few months will have to be hard work on the ground because there is no public transport to Jewar, barring a handful of private and UP Roadways bus routes that already exist.
There are multiple transport projects in the pipeline — a 72km rapid rail corridor and a Delhi Metro route connecting with the Airport Express line are among those on the drawing board. But these are long-term ones — not before 2030 at least.
Realising this, NIA recently announced an airport taxi service in collaboration with Mahindra Mobility. Noida, Greater Noida and the Yamuna authorities have also come together to form an SPV to start a city bus service that will provide a steady connection to the airport.
But with the clock ticking, pieces of the jigsaw will have to fall into place quickly for the new airport to be connected with the rest of NCR.
Intercity cabs are an option, but the amount passengers are likely to spend on them from any of the NCR cities could account for almost half of their domestic flight fares.
“If I have to spend so much just to get to the Noida airport, I would rather book a flight from Delhi. I just need to take the metro to get there,” said Rajeev Singh, a resident of Indirapuram in Ghaziabad.
Around 6.30pm on Jan 11, a one-way trip with Uber Go to the airport from Noida Sector 52 showed Rs 1,365 on the app. The fare was Rs 1,324 from Botanical Garden metro station and Rs 893 from Pari Chowk. The first two journeys would be around two hours long while the trip from Pari Chowk would take around 65 minutes.
Stakeholders agreed that spending almost half the plane fare on a cab ride was not likely to look attractive to potential flyers.
“And lack of reliable transport options would only make the airport in Jewar a lot less attractive,” a real estate promoter said.
The connectivity challenge also raises questions on the airport’s preparedness to handle international passengers who might prefer Noida over IGI because of its proximity to tourist destinations like Agra and Mathura.
“This will only tarnish the airport’s image as a world-class facility,” the promoter said.
While the rapid rail and metro links are unlikely before 2030, questions have also cropped up regarding the cost of the all-electric airport taxi service — for which the project concessionaire has tied up with Mahindra.
According to the plan, cabs will pick up and drop off passengers from and to the airport. Bookings will be available through a mobile app, website, call centres, and airport kiosks.
“Not just cost, will they have enough cabs to take bookings from passengers boarding a flight from Jewar? Moreover, where will these cabs have their hub? Will they come all the way from the airport to pick you up,” a resident asked TOI.
Concerns have also surrounded the rapid rail and metro project, with the Centre recently seeking a fresh design of the alignment.
So, the only viable option for passengers now is a 200-fleet bus service that the authorities plan to start on six routes leading to the airport.
The proposed city routes include Jewar to Botanical Garden metro station in Noida, and another linking Noida Sector 35 with the airport via Pari Chowk. Buses are also being planned to Bulandshahr, Sikandrabad, and Khurja.
Officials agreed that the bus service was the only immediate transport plan to bridge the gap on their part.
“The service aims at providing a dedicated public transport system for commuters and airport passengers. A network of electric bus routes linking the Jewar airport with more key locations in the region and beyond will be in place very soon,” said Arun Vir Singh, the CEO of Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) and Noida International Airport Ltd (NIAL).
“We are committed to providing transport services to these regions, but the financial model and timelines are still being worked out,” he added.
Officials said YEIDA had sought permission from UP Roadways and would hire an operator to run the buses once all the approvals are in. The initial fleet will have 175-200 buses in it, equipped with enough space for luggage.
A passenger will have to download a mobile application to book a seat on his chosen route — just like in the case of shared cabs.
Experts insisted that it is the lack of immediate transport options that could give Delhi airport the edge over Noida — at least for now.
“For so long, the entire focus was on completing the airport itself. Little attention was given to connectivity. If this issue is not addressed at the earliest, passengers will opt for IGI Airport, where travel is far more convenient. People should not be left dependent on cabs. Public transport, such as buses with at least 50 well-connected routes, can significantly ease travel and support middle-class travellers,” said S Velmurugan, chief scientist and head of traffic engineering and safety engineering at Central Road Research Institute.
Rishabh Nigam, president of the Yamuna Expressway Entrepreneurs Association, did not rule out an economic impact.
“While Noida airport promises to transform the region, its success depends primarily on fundamental issues like accessibility and supporting infrastructure. These aspects must be prioritised for the airport to truly deliver on its promise,” he added.
Currently, the only connectivity infrastructure that is nearing completion is a 750m elevated road linking the airport with Yamuna Expressway. Though this will ease the final leg of the journey, it offers no solution for passengers travelling from Delhi or other parts of NCR.
Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd — a subsidiary of Zurich AG that is building the airport — said in a statement: “YIAPL, UP govt and the Centre are working closely to ensure seamless connectivity to the airport by road and rail. Our goal is to provide convenient and reliable transportation options for all passengers. Additionally, we are working to establish partnerships with trusted operators to provide taxi, bus and shuttle services to and from the airport. We are investing in world-class infrastructure. When the airport opens, we expect a range of mobility services for every budget, including intercity and long-haul buses, shuttles, taxis, and ride-sharing services.”
In stark contrast, Delhi’s IGI has multiple transport options — from metro to buses and cabs.
Passengers can choose to take the Airport Express Line of Delhi Metro and reach Terminal 3 of IGI in merely 20 minutes from New Delhi railway station. Additionally, buses operated by Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and private operators link IGI with various parts of the capital. For short-distance travel, one can opt for auto-rickshaws as well, apart from cabs.
A similar model exists in the Karnataka capital, where the Kempegowda International Airport — located much on the city’s outskirts — is well-connected by buses of the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).
Source Homevior.in
