Railway Tracks to Noida Airport May Shift Near MRO Hub

The proposed 61-kilometer railway line connecting Chola in Bulandshahr to Rundhi in Palwal, aimed at linking Noida International Airport (NIA) to key routes such as Howrah, Chennai, and Mumbai, may now be constructed closer to the airport's maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) and aviation hubs planned in the second project phase. Originally, the tracks were set to connect the airport's ground transportation centre (GTC) via an 11-kilometer underground channel. However, Noida International Airport Ltd (NIAL) raised concerns about the feasibility of extensive tunnelling due to high costs and challenging soil conditions, prompting a reconsideration of the alignment. The GTC, designed to span 20 acres between the airport's two terminals in the third phase, aims to handle up to 30 million passengers annually. It will integrate buses, metro, rapid rail, and pod taxi systems, ensuring seamless access for travellers without requiring them to exit the terminal. NIAL CEO Arun Vir Singh noted that while the initial draft included rail tracks through the GTC for bidirectional train movement, this design could create technical barriers for future airport expansion. In a September meeting, Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd (YIAPL), the airport's concessionaire, proposed relocating the railway tracks to align with the MRO and aviation hub, along with building a dedicated railway station nearby. YIAPL CEO Christoph Schnellmann suggested situating the station near the airport's eastern campus, with road connectivity to a multi-modal cargo hub. The concessionaire also recommended operating shuttle services to link the station with the airport terminal, ensuring efficient transport for passengers. (ET)