Film City to med park, how airport gave wings to Yamuna City

Noida: Long before the first commercial flight touches down at Noida International Airport on Monday, the project has already altered the landscape around it.What was once largely an agrarian belt along Yamuna Expressway is rapidly evolving into a high-investment corridor — drawing industries, urban infrastructure, logistics hubs and tourism projects to position Yamuna City as one of north India’s most ambitious growth centres.“The airport has accelerated development across the region and established Yamuna City as an emerging hub for manufacturing, logistics and industry. Several projects are at different stages of planning and execution and are expected to generate substantial employment and economic activity,” said RK Singh, CEO of Yamuna Authority.The numbers reflect the momentum. The Authority has allotted 3,175 industrial plots so far.

Lease deeds have been executed for 2,495 plots and possession handed over for 1,785 of them. Building plans have been approved for 716 units, construction is underway on 314 and 60 units have already been completed, with 33 already operational, according to data till March 31.In industrial parks alone, 1,122 plots have been allotted. Among the operational units are MSME, handicrafts, toy-manufacturing, apparel and medical-device enterprises.

Hub for healthcareAmong flagship projects in the area is the medical device park in Sector 28, planned as north India’s first dedicated medical-equipment manufacturing cluster.Spread across more than 350 acres, the project aims to reduce manufacturing costs and strengthen domestic production capabilities. The Centre has approved a grant of Rs 100 crore for common infrastructure, including a central warehouse, convention and exhibition centre, centre of excellence, and skill-development and incubation facilities.Of the 203 plots carved out within the park, 123 have been allotted. Building plans for 33 units have been approved and 21 have already received completion certificates.Entertainment economyFilm City in Sector 21 is another marquee project linked to the airport-led growth story.Planned over nearly 1,000 acres, the project is being billed as a global destination for film production, media and entertainment. It will house studios, post-production facilities, animation and visual-effects infrastructure, alongside tourism and cultural attractions.Bayview Bhutani Film City Pvt Ltd — a consortium of filmmaker Boney Kapoor and the Bhutani Group — has been selected to develop the project.Urban centres beyond NoidaThe airport’s influence is also spreading beyond Gautam Budh Nagar.YEIDA is planning major urban centres in Aligarh, Hathras and Agra to accommodate future population and industrial growth.In Aligarh, the proposed Tappal-Bajna urban centre will involve acquisition of around 1,450 hectares and include a multi-modal logistics park.

YEIDA has earmarked Rs 2,056 crore for land-acquisition compensation and is currently conducting a social impact assessment.In Hathras, a master plan for 2041 is being readied to guide urban expansion. The district’s strategic rail and road connectivity is expected to support industrial growth linked to the airport corridor.For Agra, YEIDA has engaged the School of Planning and Architecture to ensure the proposed urban centre complies with Taj trapezium zone regulations while enabling sustainable development over 10,000-12,000 hectares.Supporting infraAs economic activity expands, supporting infrastructure is also being planned. A regional transport office has been proposed in Sector 33 to provide vehicle-registration and licensing services locally. YEIDA has also approved a traffic park and training centre in Jewar in partnership with Honda India Foundation.Meanwhile, a proposed Heritage City in Mathura aims to strengthen cultural and spiritual tourism through riverfront development, ashrams, handicraft markets and exhibition facilities.Together, these projects underscore how the airport has become more than a transport facility. As commercial flights begin on Monday, Noida International Airport is increasingly being seen as the engine driving a new economic geography across western UP.