The Noida International Airport in Jewar is gearing up to become a key entry point for North India. It will boost business in western Uttar Pradesh too. The airport, run by Yamuna International Airport Private Ltd, a unit of Zurich Airport International AG, is due for launch by late October. This new airport started from scratch on land that was once just poor farmland. Tata Projects Ltd handled the building work, and it wasn't simple. They dealt with many hurdles along the way.
Raman Kapil, who leads Buildings & Infrastructure at Tata Projects as President and Chief Operating Officer, talked about the job in a chat with ET Infra. He said pulling together a big team after the Covid times was hard. At the busiest point, more than 10,000 people worked on site. These folks came from all over, with different skills. "Running a huge team like that, across shifts and jobs, while keeping everyone safe and on track, needs good planning," Kapil explained. Deadlines were tight, adding extra stress.
He praised the workers a lot. "Many of them come from varied places and worked in tough spots. Their hard work and skills made this airport happen. It's going to be a big door to India for years ahead," he added. The team included masons, engineers, drivers, and more, all pitching in day and night.
One big issue was the ground itself. The water table – that's how high the underground water sits – was higher than expected. This could make the land unstable for things like the runway. "We had to study the soil carefully and use new fixes, like stabilizing the ground and adding special fabric layers called geotextiles," Kapil said. These steps ensure the runway and paths for planes stay strong over time.
The area around Delhi, including Jewar, can shake from earthquakes. It's in a high-risk zone, as per the Delhi Disaster Management Authority. Nearby quakes or big ones from the Himalayas could hit hard. So, Tata Projects built the airport to handle shakes. "We used strong designs that resist earthquakes. This meant deep checks and modern building ways to keep everything safe," Kapil noted.
Tech played a big role in making it all work. Tata Projects used the latest tools. Digital cameras and satellite pics gave live updates on progress. AI helped watch safety, track work, and use resources better. A key one was Building Information Modelling, or BIM. It's like a 3D computer model of the whole airport. "With BIM, we spotted problems early, like parts that might clash, and fixed them before building. It made drawings spot-on and sped things up," Kapil said. They used it a lot for smooth work.
These tech tricks cut delays, boosted quality, and kept the site safe. No wonder the project moved forward despite odds.
The airport starts small but grows big. In the first phase, it handles 12 million flyers a year. By the last phase, that's up to 70 million. Tata Projects built the main hall, runway, plane areas, roads, power lines, and other bits.
This isn't just about flights. It's a win for jobs and growth. The construction alone hired thousands, many locals or from nearby. It shows how big projects like this lift areas. From empty fields to a buzzing hub, it's a story of grit and smart work.
Kapil summed it up well: the workers' drive turned vision into reality. As the airport opens, it links North India better to the world. Trade, travel, and tourism get a push. For Uttar Pradesh, it's a game-changer, drawing firms and cash.
Tata Projects' role highlights India's infra push. With more airports, roads, and rails coming, firms like them lead the charge. Challenges like weather, land issues, or labor are common, but solutions like tech and training help.
In the end, Noida International Airport stands as proof of teamwork. Over 10,000 hands built it, facing water woes and quake fears. Now, it's ready to take off, serving millions and sparking growth.
