Gautam Budh Nagar Police Urges Road-Widening Near Jewar Airport for Smooth Traffic Flow
The upcoming Noida International Airport (NIA) in Jewar, set to commence commercial operations this April, is a major infrastructure project that promises to transform the region into a key aviation hub. However, as the project nears its operational stage, the Gautam Budh Nagar police have raised concerns about traffic management and the smooth flow of vehicles around the airport. The police have urged the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (Yeida) to speed up the widening of roads connecting the airport to surrounding areas, anticipating a significant increase in traffic due to the airport’s capacity.
The airport, which will be developed in two phases, is expected to handle a substantial volume of passengers and cargo. In the first phase, it will have two runways with an annual passenger capacity of around 70 million. By the second phase, the airport will expand to five runways, and the capacity will rise to 225 million passengers annually, making it one of the largest airports in the country. Given the sheer scale of operations and the expected high passenger and cargo traffic, police officials are concerned about the strain on the existing road infrastructure. The main routes leading to the airport, including connections from Noida, Greater Noida, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, and Mathura, already face heavy traffic. The police have pointed out that with the completion of the passenger and cargo terminals, traffic pressure will further escalate, leading to potential congestion and delays.
Laxmi Singh, the Police Commissioner of Gautam Budh Nagar, expressed the need for immediate action. “Due to all these developments and high traffic pressure, the widening of roads near NIA is essential for smooth and convenient traffic flow for both local residents and airport users,” Singh stated. The police are urging Yeida to prioritise the road-widening process to ensure seamless movement of both local traffic and passengers travelling to and from the airport. To address these concerns, Arun Vir Singh, CEO of Yeida, confirmed that the authority is already taking proactive measures. He highlighted that new roads are being constructed, and existing routes are being repaired and widened to meet the growing demands of commuters. The authorities are also working to connect nearby national highways and expressways, including the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, to provide better connectivity for airport users.
In addition to the road expansion, Yeida is focusing on improving access routes to ensure that the airport becomes an easily accessible transport hub. With the anticipated growth in both air travel and cargo traffic, the authorities understand that a robust and well-connected road network is essential for the successful functioning of the airport. For local residents and commuters, the plans for road-widening come as a relief. Rajesh Kumar, a local resident of Greater Noida who frequently travels to Delhi for work, shared his concerns about the current state of the roads. “During peak hours, these roads are already quite congested. With the airport opening soon, the traffic is bound to increase. I hope the widening of roads happens quickly to make commuting smoother,” he said.
Anjali Verma, a frequent traveller to the Noida region, also echoed the same sentiment. “The airport is a great development for the region, but if the roads are not widened, it could create a nightmare for people trying to get to their flights on time. I’m hopeful the authorities will take swift action,” she added.The successful launch of the Noida International Airport depends not only on the readiness of the airport facilities but also on the surrounding infrastructure, especially the road network. With plans in place to widen key roads and improve connectivity, the authorities are working to ensure that traffic flow around the airport remains smooth, despite the increase in demand. For local residents, commuters, and airport users, these measures will be crucial for the seamless operation of the airport and the ease of travel to and from the region. The focus on road-widening highlights the importance of planning for long-term infrastructure growth to accommodate future traffic demands.
