Lucknow, March 28 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first phase of the Noida International Airport on Saturday, ushering Uttar Pradesh into a new era of development. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath will also be present on the occasion. It will be the second major airport in the National Capital Region that will boost the country's efforts to be a global aviation hub. Among the largest greenfield airport projects in the country, the Noida International Airport, located in Jewar, Gautam Buddh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, will initially have a capacity to handle 12 million passengers per annum. Once fully developed, the airport will have a total passenger handling capacity of 70 million, the state government said. "Tomorrow, 28th March is a day of immense importance for the people of Uttar Pradesh and the NCR. Phase I of Noida International Airport will be inaugurated. This will boost commerce and connectivity. It will ease congestion at the IGI Airport in Delhi," Modi said in a post on X.: The project was awarded in October 2020 to Zurich Airport International AG, which is developing and operating the airport through its Indian subsidiary, Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), under a 40-year public-private partnership. The Uttar Pradesh chief minister's office posted on X, "New Uttar Pradesh' takes a new flight on the runway of development! The country's largest international airport - Noida International Airport is ready for inauguration." "At around 11.30am, he (PM) will undertake a walkthrough of the Terminal Building of Noida International Airport at Jewar, Gautam Buddha Nagar. Thereafter, at around noon, the Prime Minister will inaugurate Phase I of Noida International Airport and address a public gathering on the occasion," the government said in its statement. Phase I of the airport, developed on a public-private partnership (PPP) model with a total investment of around Rs 11,200 crore, is among the largest greenfield airport projects in the country, the state government said on Friday. It features a 3,900-metre runway capable of handling wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777-300ER, along with modern navigation systems including Instrument Landing System (ILS) and advanced airfield lighting to support efficient, all-weather, round-the-clock operations. The airport also has a cargo ecosystem, including a multi-modal cargo hub, featuring an integrated cargo terminal and logistics zones. The cargo facility is designed to handle over 2.5 lakh metric tonnes annually, expandable to around 18 lakh metric tonnes, and includes a dedicated 40-acre Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility. The Noida International Airport aims to operate as a net-zero emissions facility, integrating energy-efficient systems and environmentally responsible practices. Its architectural design draws inspiration from Indian heritage, incorporating elements reminiscent of traditional ghats and havelis, thereby blending cultural aesthetics with modern infrastructure. Strategically located along the Yamuna Expressway, Noida International Airport is planned as a multi-modal transport hub with seamless integration across road, rail, metro, and regional transit systems, ensuring efficient connectivity for passengers and cargo. With a proposed capacity of five runways, it is moving towards becoming the country's largest aviation hub. Its strategic location can make it an important transit centre between Asia and Europe, significantly expanding international connectivity. In the second phase, the capacity will be expanded to 30 million passengers. With further expansion in the third and fourth phases, the total capacity is targeted to reach 70 million passengers annually. In the first phase, the terminal building covers an area of approximately 1.38 lakh sq m and includes 48 check-in counters, nine security screening lanes and nine immigration counters. Domestic and international lounges are also being developed for passenger convenience. Additionally, the airport will have 10 aerobridges and 28 aircraft parking stands. The runway has been designed to handle around 30 flight operations per hour. A modern cargo and logistics hub is also being developed within the airport complex. The airport will be equipped with advanced systems such as DigiYatra-based biometric processing, self-baggage drop facilities and digital passenger processing systems to ensure faster and smoother travel for passengers. Experts believe that once operational, the airport will help reduce air traffic pressure in the Delhi-NCR and create new opportunities for investment, tourism and employment in western UP....