Realtors in Jewar are thrilled as an airport project has ignited a building boom in this otherwise dull agricultural town close to New Delhi.

Landowners are hurrying to construct fake houses to increase valuations, resulting in heaps of bricks and rubble. Enclosed areas have become a familiar scene, with some of them indicated by signs promoting upcoming industrial zones: Apparel Park, Medical Park, Leather Park, and Toy Park. Recently, two banks have launched, offering a service that was once far away.

A dining establishment called 'Jewar Airport Restaurant,' still emanating the scent of fresh paint, offers a diverse menu featuring North Indian curries, noodles, pizzas, and burgers. The majority of its clients are farmers who have sold their hereditary land amid the current real estate boom.

“The airport has created wealth in our region and that has benefitted my business,” stated Aakash Chaudhary, the restaurant owner. This is prior to the opening of the Noida International Airport at Jewar, located about 50 miles from India's capital city, to passengers.

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Following several missed deadlines, the airport is set to be inaugurated on March 28 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Approximately Rs.11,200 crore ($1.2 billion) was allocated for the initial phase of the project, which will accommodate 12 million passengers each year.

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Promoted as the largest in India once finished, the six-runway airport is designed to span 7,200 acres — which is eight times larger than Central Park in New York City — and has Zurich Airport International AG as its only backer.

It’s among the largest initiatives in India's infrastructure transformation, witnessing billions invested in the construction of bridges, highways, ports, and airports. The achievement of major projects with foreign investment such as the Jewar airport is essential for the nation to keep drawing in international funds rather than solely depending on domestic giants like billionaires Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani.

Christoph Schnellmann, the airport's CEO, characterized the country as “one of the most attractive” markets, demonstrating its resilience during disruptive times like the pandemic.

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In 2019, Zurich Airport secured the contract, drawn by the chance to create a substantial, greenfield airport from scratch in a strategically advantageous site near New Delhi.