NOIDA: As Noida International Airport prepares to open for commercial flights in May, the race now is to solve every passenger’s first impression — the journey to and from the terminal.In a major push to plug that last-mile gap, UP Roadways has decided to run buses from Pari Chowk to the airport every 30 minutes, while services from Noida City Centre will operate every hour.“We are working to link the airport with Noida city centre, Delhi and other major NCR and north Indian cities through a mix of state-run buses, private shuttles, taxis and app-based mobility services,” an official said.Shailendra Bhatia, nodal officer at Noida International Airport Ltd (NIAL), said the aim is to ensure passengers are not left struggling for transport once flights begin. “From the very first day, the airport will offer a wide range of mobility options, including intercity and long-haul buses, airport taxis, cab aggregators and parking facilities. We will ensure travel to and from the airport is smooth,” he added.Bhatia said NIAL has signed agreements with multiple road transport corporations to build direct bus links with key cities. Uttarakhand Transport Corporation will run services to Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Haldwani. Haryana Roadways will connect the airport with Chandigarh, Gurgaon, Faridabad and Palwal. Delhi Transport Corporation will operate buses from Kashmere Gate, Sarai Kale Khan, Anand Vihar and New Delhi railway stations.UP Roadways, which already runs nearly 300 CNG buses from depots in Noida and Greater Noida, will form the bulk of last-mile services. “Initially, roadways buses will run from 8am to 8pm. Buses from Pari Chowk to the airport will be available every 30 minutes, while services from City Centre via Pari Chowk will run every hour,” Bhatia said.Alongside state transport services, NIAL is also planning shuttle links from key NCR points, including Noida, Greater Noida, Botanical Garden metro station, Ghaziabad and Akshardham Temple in Delhi. NIAL has also tied up with Mahindra Logistics for airport taxi services, while app-based operators such as Uber, Ola, Rapido and travel agencies like MakeMyTrip will offer on-demand bookings.The deployment of cabs will be finalised closer to launch.For long-distance travellers, RedBus will provide luxury coach services to destinations such as Mathura, Agra, Lucknow, Dehradun, Chandigarh and Jaipur, covering individual passengers, groups, tourism packages and charter demand.Residents said they were relieved with the options to reach Jewar, which is 65km from central Noida. “The bus links will be a big relief because reaching the airport easily is just as important as catching the flight on time,” said a resident from Greater Noida.Officials said the airport’s Aerodrome Security Programme certification from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security is expected within a week, clearing another key step before operations begin.
