Noida: The newly inaugurated airport is operational but far from complete, as evident on Monday. Passengers and visitors experienced a mix of excitement and frustration due to a string of inconveniences: substandard food, patchy WiFi, non-functional vending machines, and a lack of personnel outside the terminal to guide arrivals.
Transport and Navigation Challenges
For some, troubles began before reaching the airport. Several visitors reported that navigation apps directed them to nearby Kishorepur village instead of the terminal, forcing many to retrace a 5km route. Transport options were scarce, with ride-hailing apps showing long waiting times or failing to assign cabs altogether.
Akhay Malhotra, traveling to Amritsar, highlighted connectivity issues. "Cabs are expensive. I was told there's a bus service from Botanical Garden, but the next one was scheduled much later. A cab became the only practical option," he said.
Food and Amenities Shortfalls
Near the arrivals area, Yogesh and Neetu Sharma stood outside the only operational food outlet, Flying Bites. The menu listed croissants, sandwiches, and wraps, but only coffee and rolls were available. "The facilities are not what one would expect at this price point," Yogesh remarked. A staff member added that systems were still being set up, and only cash and card payments were accepted.
Mohammad Rashid, dropping off his daughter traveling to Lucknow, gave up on the airport WiFi. "The network was weak. I had to switch to mobile data just to reach her on WhatsApp," he said.
Basic amenities were also lacking. At one of two vending kiosks near the terminal, Ajit Yadav attempted to buy water but received a refund notice. Two maintenance workers repeatedly tried to restart the machine. One worker, speaking anonymously, admitted the problem had recurred multiple times during the day despite attempts to fix it.
Visitors also noted the absence of washrooms outside the terminal. Saroj Devi, a resident of Rohi village, said she searched in vain while waiting to drop off a relative. "If the airport is so big, there should be a washroom for visitors as well," she said.
Official Response
Airport officials acknowledged the issues as part of launching a major infrastructure project. A senior NIA official said additional facilities are in the pipeline. "Washroom facilities for visitors will be ready within two weeks. More food outlets will open soon," the official said.
Regarding navigation problems, Christoph Schnellmann, vice president of NIA, said the operator had already written to Google requesting a correction to the misdirected maps. "These are initial hiccups, and we are trying to fix all problems at the earliest," he said.
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