Protests erupt at Noida International Airport as 334 land-affected families await jobs

As Noida International Airport gears up for its inauguration, around 334 families who had opted for employment instead of cash compensation during the first two phases of land acquisition are still waiting for promised jobs linked to the project.

Also Read: Noida International Airport proposes higher UDF of up to ₹1,200 for departures, report says

Earlier this week, a group of affected residents staged a protest near the airport site in Jewar, demanding direct employment from the concessionaire. Protesters said they had been assured job opportunities during the land acquisition process but were recently informed that positions would now be provided through private contractors rather than the concessionaire itself.


Saurabh Sharma, a resident of Banwaripur village whose family lost 10 acres of land in 2019, said, “Officials assured affected families that beneficiaries would get jobs.

I have been waiting since then, but nothing has materialised. Now we are told jobs will come through contractors. We want stable employment directly with the concessionaire, Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL).” Sharma, who holds an MTech in automobile engineering, said a meeting with airport officials on February 23, attended by police and local MLA Dhirendra Singh, had promised employment, but no update has followed.

Chand Mohammad from Nangla Shareef village said protesters braved the heat outside the airport gate. “Employment through private contractors means lower pay, less stability, and no benefits like provident fund or medical coverage. We will continue our protest until our demands are met,” he said.

Under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, governments must ensure affected families receive either skill training and employment opportunities or full monetary compensation.

A Yamuna Authority official said the law does not require employment to be provided directly by the concessionaire. “It is not feasible for the concessionaire to hire all candidates.

For instance, pilots and cabin crew will be hired by airlines, not the concessionaire. Around 70 private companies are operating at the airport and offering employment, but some candidates are unwilling to work through private firms,” the official explained. The authority added that no candidate would be removed from employment without NIAL approval.

Also Read: Noida International Airport clears last major hurdle: Opening now just two months away

The protest was called off in the evening after officials from Noida International Airport Limited arrived on site and assured residents that their concerns would be addressed.

During the first two phases of land acquisition, approximately 334 families had chosen employment over compensation. Of these, 181 have applied for jobs so far. Authorities acquired about 1,334 hectares in the first phase and 1,365 hectares in the second, with an additional 2,053 hectares expected to be acquired in phases three and four.

(With inputs from TOI)