Noida: When commercial flights commence at Noida International Airport on June 15, the only way to reach the airport will be by cab or private car. With metro links still missing and the proposed electric bus service yet to become operational, connectivity to the airport will rely entirely on aggregator fleets.
Distance and Fare Estimates
The airport, located in Jewar, is approximately 65 kilometers from the populated areas of Noida and east Delhi, which are expected to be its primary catchment zones in the National Capital Region. According to app fare checks conducted by TOI on Wednesday, prices from Film City to Noida International Airport ranged between Rs 800 and Rs 1,400.
NIAL's Coordination with Cab Aggregators
Noida International Airport Ltd (NIAL) has stated that it is stepping up coordination with cab aggregators to ensure seamless transport connectivity when commercial operations begin. Dedicated pick-up and drop-off stands for cabs and bike taxis have been developed at the airport, although app-based cabs have not yet been deployed. NIAL nodal officer Shailendra Bhatia confirmed to TOI that cab services will be available from the first day of operations. “Noida International Airport will offer passengers a wide range of mobility options, including airport taxis, cab aggregators and electric air-conditioned buses, with ample parking facilities to ensure a smooth travel experience. We are coordinating with different stakeholders and these facilities will be available from June 15,” he said.
Partnerships with Ride-Hailing Platforms
NIA has tie-ups with Mahindra Mobility, Uber, Ola and Rapido for app-based bookings from launch day. Uber confirmed it will be live from day one, with dedicated pickup and drop-off zones and a range of ride options, including Uber Go, Premier and Uber XL, as well as hourly and outstation bookings. Rapido stated that rides will initially be serviced by drivers already operating in Noida and surrounding areas. “As demand grows, we will assess the need for a dedicated fleet. Fare structures will remain consistent with those at other airports,” a spokesperson said. Mahindra Logistics Mobility did not respond to calls but is likely to roll out electric taxi services.
Local Taxi Drivers' Perspectives
Noida taxi drivers told TOI that they would provide services to the airport from key areas of the city. Shivpoojan Yadav, who operates near Botanical Garden metro station, said the fare from Botanical Garden to the airport currently ranges between Rs 500 and Rs 700. “Since flights haven’t started, we barely get bookings for Jewar. Not many drivers take the trip because finding a return passenger is difficult. Once the flights start, the situation will improve and things should fall into place,” he said. Another driver, Raman, noted that he would prefer the Noida airport run over IGI airport. The distance from Botanical Garden to Noida airport is 65 km compared to 30 km to IGI, but the journey times are comparable. “We can reach Noida airport in about an hour and a half via the Noida and Yamuna expressways. Covering 30 km to IGI often takes the same time or more because of the jams on the way,” he said.
Electric Bus Fleet Plans
Noida Authority and UPSRTC are set to roll out a fleet of 100 air-conditioned electric buses to improve city-wide connectivity, with the airport corridor among its priority routes. On Wednesday, around 30 new buses arrived at the Sector 90 depot. Officials stated that the buses will begin serving the airport route within the week. Noida Authority CEO Krishna Karunesh said charging infrastructure at the depot is being set up in parallel. “Routes and fares have already been finalised. We expect bus services to become operational a few days before the airport starts commercial flight operations,” he said.
Initial Phase Relies on Cabs
For the first phase of operations, however, the burden of last-mile connectivity will fall squarely on the cab aggregator ecosystem and on the roughly 20,000 registered cab drivers across Noida.
