Taj Mahal will become a day trip from anywhere in India

Access is very important for airports.

- BY K. SUNIL THOMAS

Q Where does the NIA stand as far as access from the NCR as well as western UP areas is concerned?

A The Yamuna Expressway will be our lifeline in the initial years of airport operations. State bus operators in Delhi, Haryana, Uttarakhand and UP have committed a large fleet to serve the airport as well. We have tied up with Mahindra, who will offer an all-electric premium airport taxi service for passengers. App-based cabs will be available as well, and in between there will be coaches and rental cars.

Q There was talk of a high-speed rail link from Delhi. Where does it stand now?

A That is in planning. The state is committed to extending the Delhi-Meerut RRTS (metro-like high-speed rail) network into Ghaziabad.

Q Which are the airlines on board?

A Indigo and Akasa have committed to basing aircraft at Noida. Ultimately, it is up to them and their network planning teams to develop the fleet, but there will be a strong domestic fleet serving the metro airports in India, regional destinations and international destinations as well.

Q Are there any tie-ups with foreign airlines?

A There has been interest primarily from Middle Eastern and South Asian airlines.

Q Has Air India backtracked in a way?

A No. Some of their airlines (Air India Express) have filed for slots. We do expect to see Air India aircraft.

Q It is the second airport in Delhi NCR, and with western UP not so developed, what kind of business turnover, revenue model and timelines are you looking at? Will you eventually be cannibalising Delhi Airport's traffic?