NOIDA: The Uttar Pradesh government has approved the rehabilitation and resettlement (RR) scheme for the third and fourth phases of the Noida International Airport project in Jewar. This decision, following Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s recent site inspection, enables the acquisition of 1,857 hectares across 14 villages, affecting around 16,000 families.
This expansion is vital for transforming Noida International Airport into the largest greenfield aviation hub in India. The newly approved scheme permits the district administration to issue formal notices to families whose land and homes will be acquired in accordance with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act.
The process follows two public hearings held in July and has advanced, ensuring compliance with legal and humanitarian protocols.
Officials reported a revision in the number of affected families, now at 15,920, down from the initial estimate of 17,945, based on feedback on the draft scheme.
Under the rehabilitation plan, families will not be displaced until they are assigned residential plots in a newly developed resettlement area with homes constructed within an established timeframe.
The scheme promises landowners compensation at Rs 4,300 per sqm, a 40% increase from previous rates.
To facilitate relocation, the administration has designated 438 hectares across six villages—Mangroli, Neemka Shahjahanpur, Alavalpur, Sadullapur, Ahmadpur Chauroli, and Jewar Banger—for new resettlement colonies. This initiative will begin with a social impact assessment, followed by public notification.
Officials assured that the entire resettlement and rehabilitation process would be completed within two years.
The state government’s decision comes at a crucial time. On Saturday, CM Adityanath conducted an extensive inspection of the airport site, evaluating the domestic terminal, security measures, traffic management, and ongoing construction efforts both aerially and on foot. During his visit, he highlighted the importance of quality, timeliness, and coordination and called for improved passenger amenities and seamless connectivity.
Officials briefed the CM on the airport’s technical readiness, including the terminal building and a test flight under DGCA oversight. Although the Union Civil Aviation Minister had previously announced an opening on October 30, the operational launch has been postponed, with flight schedules expected to be released from mid-December.
Preparations for the inauguration are expected to be finalized by November 15, although the official date remains unconfirmed.
Once fully operational, Noida International Airport will be among the largest in the world, covering 11,750 acres with five runways and a projected capacity of 300 million passengers annually. In its initial phase, the airport will feature a single runway, accommodating 12 million passengers and 150 flights daily, with future expansion plans in place as traffic increases. Agreements with major airlines have already been secured.
As of now, 6,700 acres have been acquired for the project, with an additional 5,100 acres expected to be procured soon. The total estimated cost for land acquisition stands at Rs 5,000 crore, while construction costs are projected to reach around Rs 7,000 crore.
