"Completion of Additional Land Acquisition for Noida Airport Expected Within 6 Months: NIAL"

Shailendra Bhatia, the Uttar Pradesh government's Nodal Officer at Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL), announced on Friday that the acquisition of an additional 3,418 hectares of land in the northern and southern regions of the proposed Noida International Airport will be completed within the next six months. Currently under the control of Zurich Airport, NIAL is actively developing the airport on the initial 1,334 hectares leased by the UP government in 2021. This land is slated for development in four phases, featuring two runways.

The cost of acquiring the initial 1,334 hectares amounted to Rs 4,326 crore. The first construction phase is anticipated to conclude by the end of this year, with the commencement of the first commercial flight expected in 2024.

Shailendra Bhatia revealed, "The 1,365 hectares of additional land is being acquired on the northern side, and on the southern side, we are acquiring 2,053 hectares." The extra land will be instrumental in developing three more runways and hubs for aviation-related services.

The land acquisition process in the northern area is on the verge of completion. Bhatia stated, "We have distributed compensation to 90 per cent of farmers. We will get possession of this land in the next month. For the southern land (2,053 hectares), we have completed the social impact assessment (SIA), and the further process is ongoing. I think it will be completed in the next six months."

This additional land acquisition by the Uttar Pradesh government is aimed at future airport expansion plans. Bhatia highlighted, "One more runway will be built on the northern land, and two more runways on the southern land. Therefore, the airport will then have a total of five runways."

A separate Request for Proposal (RFP) will be developed for the northern and southern land acquisition. Bhatia added, "Right now, we are deciding the royalty and determining the financial model for the new RFP. To build an aviation ecosystem, we require more land. That is why it is being done right now. Once the airport takes off, it is difficult to acquire land. That is why we are acquiring the land in anticipation of the need."

BS