Runway to dreams: For many, airport a launchpad for jobs, trade & global access

NOIDA: As PM Modi unveiled the Noida International Airport, the crowd gathered under the sun carried more than just curiosity — they carried plans.

For Shivam Kumar, a BTech student from Bulandshahr, the airport is a bridge to his future abroad. For Raj Kumar Sharma’s family, it is the foundation of a business dream. Across Noida, Jewar and neighbouring towns, the mood at the inauguration was one of quiet optimism, driven by the promise of opportunity, faster travel and a local economy.

Thousands attended the event, many hoping the airport would bring prosperity along with convenience.

Shivam Kumar, who studies computer science at Gautam Buddha University, said the airport would significantly cut travel time for those living in Noida and western UP. “My elder brother works in Dubai and usually flies from Delhi. Reaching IGI takes three to four hours from Bulandshahr. With this airport, it will be about an hour. I also hope to go abroad after my studies, and this will make a huge difference,” he added.

For families whose land was acquired, the project represents both loss and new beginnings. Raj Kumar Sharma from Nangla Shri Gopal village said his 12 acres were acquired for the airport. “My children are studying. One is preparing for UPSC, another is pursuing BA LLB. My daughter is studying fashion design in Ahmedabad. With new projects coming up in YEIDA area, she now plans to start her own venture in the apparel park,” he said.

The ripple effect is already visible in neighbouring districts.

Ganpat Singh from Dibai noted that land prices in Bulandshahr have doubled in recent years. “Rates have gone from Rs 8-10 lakh per acre to nearly Rs 20 lakh. Once the airport is operational, it will benefit our region as well,” he said.

Located about 50km from the airport, he added that Bulandshahr farmers could soon use cargo facilities to transport produce more efficiently.

The project has also generated employment. Fatima, a resident of Kishorpur, said her husband has been working as a labourer at the site for four years. “We may have to relocate in the future, but the airport has brought jobs. It has made a difference to us,” she said.

As the project moves towards completion, the airport is emerging not just as a transport hub, but as a catalyst. For many, it’s reshaping aspirations, livelihoods and the economic landscape of the region.