Noida’s Jewar Airport Fails 25 Safety Benchmarks, Commercial Operations Face Further Delay

New Delhi: While commercial flights have begun at the Navi Mumbai airport from December 25, the much-anticipated Noida International Airport at Jewar, touted as India’s largest airport, is facing further delays due to serious safety and security shortcomings.

According to official sources, the Jewar airport has failed to meet more than 25 mandatory security and safety standards, leading to a delay in obtaining critical safety clearance. As a result, passengers may have to wait longer before flights can take off from the greenfield airport located near Delhi.

Construction of the Navi Mumbai and Jewar airports began around the same time, but the contrast in progress has now become evident. While the Adani Group’s Navi Mumbai airport has commenced commercial operations, the six-runway Jewar airport is yet to clear key regulatory hurdles.

Major Lapses Found in Security Audit

A recent security audit of the Noida International Airport (NIA) revealed multiple deficiencies. One of the most serious concerns relates to the 14-kilometre-long perimeter wall. Only about five kilometres of this boundary has been constructed using concrete, while the remaining stretch consists of chain-link fencing.

Security experts have flagged this as a major risk, as shallow digging beneath the fencing could allow animals or anti-social elements to access restricted areas near the runway. Aviation security norms in India require airport boundary walls to be fully concrete and embedded at least three feet into the ground.

Sources in the Ministry of Civil Aviation also pointed out that the airport has already missed several deadlines, raising concerns over project execution and preparedness.

Opening Timeline Uncertain

The latest tentative deadline for opening the airport has been set for January 2026. However, given the scale of security gaps identified so far, officials believe that Phase 1 operations may only begin after March 2026. That said, authorities claim that corrective work is being carried out at a rapid pace, leaving room for an earlier opening if deficiencies are addressed promptly.

Before a final operational date is announced, inspections by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and senior ministry officials will continue. These inspections have so far identified shortcomings across more than 25 parameters, with perimeter security emerging as a critical concern.

Once operational, the Jewar airport is expected to significantly ease congestion at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and transform aviation connectivity in western Uttar Pradesh. However, for now, safety concerns have taken precedence over speed, pushing the launch timeline further down the runway.

Related