SynopsisNoida International Airport opens on June 15. Passengers will primarily use cabs and private vehicles. App-based taxis like Uber and Ola will be available. Local taxi drivers anticipate increased demand. Electric bus services are expected to launch soon. Airport authorities are coordinating with mobility providers for smooth operations.IANSNoida airport to rely on cabs as flights begin on June 15With commercial flight operations set to commence at Noida International Airport (NIA) on June 15, passengers will initially have to rely almost entirely on cabs and private vehicles to reach the facility. The absence of metro connectivity and the delayed rollout of the city's proposed electric bus service mean app-based taxis will serve as the primary mode of transport during the airport's launch phase, according to Shafaque Alam's Times of India report. Located nearly 65 km from densely populated areas of Noida and east Delhi — expected to be among the airport's key catchment zones in the NCR — the airport is likely to witness significant dependence on ride-hailing platforms. On Wednesday, app-based fares from Film City in Noida to the airport in Jewar ranged between Rs 800 and Rs 1,400.To facilitate passenger movement, Noida International Airport Ltd (NIAL) said it is working closely with mobility providers ahead of the launch. Dedicated pick-up and drop-off zones have been created for cabs and bike taxis, although app-based operators are yet to deploy vehicles at the airport.Also Read: Air India Express defers Noida Airport launch, exits Hindon amid cost-cuttingNIAL nodal officer Shailendra Bhatia told 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.The airport has partnered with Mahindra Mobility, Uber, Ola and Rapido to enable app-based bookings from the day commercial operations begin. Uber confirmed that its services will be operational from day one, offering dedicated airport pick-up and drop-off points along with ride categories such as Uber Go, Premier and Uber XL, in addition to hourly and outstation options.Rapido said it will initially cater to airport demand through drivers already operating in Noida and nearby regions. “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.While Mahindra Logistics Mobility did not respond to queries, the company is expected to introduce electric taxi services at the airport.Also Read: The 5-second security check that spots more than just metalLocal taxi operators are also gearing up for increased demand. Shivpoojan Yadav, a driver operating near Botanical Garden metro station, said fares to the airport currently range 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, said he sees advantages in servicing Noida airport compared with Delhi's IGI Airport. Although the distance from Botanical Garden to Noida airport is around 65 km, compared with 30 km to IGI, travel times are often similar. “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.Meanwhile, the Noida Authority and Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) are preparing to introduce a fleet of 100 air-conditioned electric buses to strengthen public transport connectivity across the city, with the airport route identified as a priority corridor. Around 30 buses reached the Sector 90 depot on Wednesday, and officials indicated that airport services could begin within days.Noida Authority CEO Krishna Karunesh said work on supporting infrastructure is progressing simultaneously. “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.Until public transport services are fully rolled out, however, last-mile connectivity to the airport will largely depend on app-based cab operators and the city's estimated 20,000 registered taxi drivers.(With TOI inputs)Read More News on...moreless