"Farmers who contributed land for this airport will travel on its inaugural flight": Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu
Gautam Buddha Nagar, June 15
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Monday interacted with farmers and their family members who will travel on the first commercial flight from Noida International Airport, highlighting their contribution to the development of the airport and the region's transformation into a major aviation hub.
The interaction took place after the formal launch of commercial flight operations at Noida International Airport. The farmers are among those whose families voluntarily contributed land for the construction of the airport.
Ram Mohan Naidu said, "The farmers who contributed land for this airport will travel on its inaugural flight to Lucknow, where a special interaction with the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been organised...This will serve as a hub for both domestic and international operations... Once completed, the Jewar Airport is set to become one of the largest airports in Asia..."
He further outlined the airport's expansion plans, saying, "We will start with a capacity of 1.2 crore passengers, and the terminal will be expanded once that capacity is saturated. Ultimately, by the fourth phase, we aim to increase the capacity to 7 crore passengers per year..."
Ram Mohan Naiduu further said, "Today is a day of great joy and a historic milestone as the first flight prepares to depart from Noida International Airport. Under the guidance of Yogi Adityanath ji, we have made special arrangements for 170 farmers, who contributed their land to this project, to travel on this inaugural flight to Lucknow following a special meeting with them. At the same time, flights to Bangalore and other destinations are also ready to depart. In total, operations for four destinations are commencing today from Noida International Airport after much anticipation. Looking around, I see a great deal of emotion and excitement here today for an airport that is destined to be among the top five in our country."
Marking the significance of the event, around 170 farmers from the Jewar region, including 20 women, who voluntarily contributed their ancestral lands for the construction of the Noida International Airport, will travel on an inaugural flight to Lucknow today, where they will meet Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The farmers' delegation will be led by Jewar legislator Dhirendra Singh. According to an official release, the farmers will meet CM Adityanath in Lucknow to thank him for the state's development initiatives and the establishment of the airport, which is expected to boost connectivity and economic activity in the region.
Meanwhile, the first scheduled IndiGo flight, 6E-2278, arrived at the airport from Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow. After its arrival in Jewar, the flight continued onward to Bengaluru, where it was scheduled to land at 11:05 am.
The airport is a major international gateway for the National Capital Region (NCR), representing a major step in strengthening the country's airport infrastructure and enhancing regional and international connectivity.
The airport has been developed as the second international airport serving the Delhi-NCR region, complementing operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.
Noida International Airport is among the largest greenfield airport projects in India. Phase I of Noida International Airport has been developed at a total investment of around Rs 11,200 crore under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
It features a 3,900-meter runway capable of handling wide-body aircraft, along with modern navigation systems including Instrument Landing System (ILS) and advanced airfield lighting to support efficient, all-weather, round-the-clock operations, according to the Prime Minister's Office.
— ANI
Reader Comments
That's a lovely symbolic gesture, but I hope the farmers were fairly compensated for their land too. One flight ticket doesn't make up for generations of agricultural livelihood. Hope the rehabilitation package was proper.
Converting agricultural land into an airport - let's be honest, it's a mixed bag. Development is needed, but farmers are the backbone of our country. Hope this airport truly transforms Jewar into a world-class hub and creates jobs for the local youth. That would be the real compensation. 🙏
Finally some good news from Indian aviation! This airport will definitely ease pressure on Delhi's IGI. The capacity expansion plan to 70 million passengers per year in phase 4 is ambitious but necessary for a growing economy. Smart move involving local farmers in the inaugural event.
Ye toh badi achhi baat hai! Farmers ko first flight mein leke jaana - bahut samman ki baat hai. Aur CM Yogi ji se milna bhi arrange kiya hai. Development and respect going hand in hand. Bas yeh dekhna hai ki aane wale time mein local logon ko jobs bhi milein. 👏
As someone from the NCR region, I'm thrilled about this airport reducing travel time. But let's not forget - the real test will be ensuring proper connectivity from Jewar to other parts of Delhi/Noida. Without good metro or road links, this airport won't reach its potential. Hope the infrastructure keeps pace.
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