In a significant step towards improving regional connectivity, a new 60 km railway line has been proposed to link Chola in Bulandshahr with Rundhi in Palwal, passing through areas that are expected to benefit from the upcoming Noida airport.
This line aims to connect Noida International Airport with major railway routes to Howrah, Chennai, and Mumbai, making travel options smoother.
Officials from the North Central Railway have recommended that the proposed railway tracks be integrated with the airport’s ground transportation centre through an underground channel.
The new line will feature junctions at Chola, where it will merge with the Delhi-Howrah line, and at Rundhi, where it will extend to the Delhi-Chennai/Mumbai route. This integration aims for multi-directional train travel from the airport.
Rapid Rail and Train Line Report
The detailed project report (DPR) from the railways is pending the completion of designs for other connectivity modes by the airport concessionaire, Yamuna International Airport (YIAPL).
According to Arun Vir Singh, CEO of Noida International Airport, "The railways sought details about the coordinates of the proposed rapid rail line connecting the airport with Ghaziabad station. They also wanted to know about the tracks being planned inside the airport GTC, a hub of various transportation modes under one roof. Once YIAPL submits its report, the railways will file its DPR. Once that is done, the process to construct the railway tracks will be initiated."
Project Cost and Deadline
The project estimation comes to approximately Rs 2,400 crore and is expected to take around three years for completion. The total route will span nearly 99 km, including additional connectivity tracks. The main track between Chola and Rundhi stations will be 61 km long. This planned route is expected to initially serve over 1.2 lakh people. The stations along the route will include Rundhi, Chandhat, Jewar Khadar, Airport, Jahangirpur, Bighapur, and Chola, as reported by the Economic Times.
Infrastructure and Connectivity Enhancements
The project will involve the construction of five railway flyovers—two on the Chennai-Delhi line and three on the Howrah route. This will integrate seamlessly with the existing network passing through Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Additionally, it will feature 45 minor road crossings and a significant bridge over the Yamuna River. Officials have noted that the alignment is designed to decrease disruption to existing structures and human settlements. It will also avoid interfering with the Eastern Peripheral Expressway and aim to reduce land acquisition challenges.
The airport station will be integrated with the terminal building, allowing easy passenger transfers. The alignment will also improve connectivity to key locations, including the multimodal transport hub near Dadri. Fast trains like Vande Bharat are expected to run on this route which will connect stations such as New Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, and Lucknow.
Noida Airport
The construction of the runway for Noida International Airport is on schedule, with trial flights expected to start as early as June or July. The airport claims to be India's largest upon completion.
It is being developed by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited, a fully-owned subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, in partnership with the state government.
This railway project aims to significantly enhance regional connectivity and support the growing infrastructural needs of the Noida International Airport. The integration of various transportation modes will help to make travel smoother and more efficient, benefiting a large number of passengers and contributing to the region’s economic development.
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