The Uttar Pradesh government has imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh per day on Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), the operator of Noida International Airport, for delays in the construction of the key facility in Jewar, officials said on Tuesday, according to India Today.
The airport was initially set to commence operations in September 2024, but the concessionaire received a three-month extension until December due to construction setbacks caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, with the project now expected to miss the revised April deadline, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has enforced the penalty under the concession agreement. The fine has been in effect since January 1 and will continue until the airport becomes operational.
As per the latest directive, the Uttar Pradesh government has ordered YIAPL to launch domestic passenger services by May 15 and international flights by June 25. The decision was taken during a high-level review meeting on March 10, where Adityanath expressed concerns over slow progress, particularly in the terminal building’s construction, said Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL) CEO Arun Vir Singh.
Airport’s Current Progress and Challenges
Officials revealed that while 80% of the terminal building is complete, key infrastructure, including the international passenger section and navigation equipment, remains unfinished. The air traffic control (ATC) tower has been constructed, but additional air-conditioned rooms must be ready by March 31 for the installation of sensitive equipment. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is expected to take around 20 days thereafter to complete the setup.
To meet the revised deadlines, NIAL has asked YIAPL and other stakeholders for a “catch-up” plan. Singh stated that domestic operations could begin first with six aerobridges instead of the planned ten, as the domestic and international sections are on different levels.
On March 6, an aeronautical information publication (AIP) — a mandatory notice for operational readiness — was issued. Singh noted that with the AIP process taking 70 days, domestic flights could start by May 15, pending approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The UP chief secretary is expected to convene another review meeting soon to assess further developments on the project.