This rail corridor, the detailed project report for which is being prepared by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), will not only connect the two airports but also other parts of Delhi. The detailed project report for the corridor is expected to be completed by March, according to an ET report.
According to Shailendra Bhatia, the Nodal Officer at Noida International Airport Limited, once started the project is estimated to take four years to complete. This new rapid rail corridor will significantly enhance the appeal of the greenfield Noida airport and enable it to capture spill over passenger traffic from the Delhi Airport.
The Noida Airport, which is scheduled to have its first flight later this year, has already signed agreements with IndiGo and Akasa Air for flight operations.
It is worth noting that while the Delhi Airport is operated by the GMR group, the contract to operate the Noida Airport has been won by Zurich Airport.
As per the proposal, the Noida airport link will branch out of the Ghaziabad station, which serves as one of the interchange stations for the Delhi Meerut Rapid Rail Transport. Passengers will also be able to connect to the under-construction Delhi-Alwar Rapid Rail through Sarai Kale Khan, the originating station of the Delhi-Meerut Rail. The Delhi-Alwar rail, expected to be completed by mid-2025, will have a station at Indira Gandhi International Airport and Aerocity.
Shailendra Bhatia stated that this high-speed connection between the two airports and the Delhi area is crucial to increase the airport’s catchment area. The project has been approved by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The total travel time is expected to be around 80 minutes.
While other options such as an express metro directly connecting the two airports were considered before the Noida rapid rail, they were deemed infeasible due to the project cost.
Furthermore, the Noida airport authorities are also developing other modes of public transportation, such as high-speed bus corridors, to connect the airport with Delhi and Gurgaon. Shailendra Bhatia added that a multi-modal transport connectivity for the airport is being planned.
Officials of Noida airport believe that such connectivity will enhance the airport’s attractiveness for airlines to begin operations. An airport official stated that when domestic and international airlines are approached, they will definitely consider the connectivity. Government initiatives like this are very helpful, the official said.
According to CEO Christoph Schnellmann, the airport is expected to be operational by the end of this year. He mentioned that runway asphalting and paving activities are currently underway, and the installation of the baggage system is in progress. Construction activities at the airport are set to accelerate in the coming months, and partnerships are being formed to develop retail and food and beverage experiences at the airport.