Protests at Noida International Airport: Families Still Waiting for Promised Jobs
Noida: As the much-awaited Noida International Airport prepares for its inauguration, frustration is growing among hundreds of families who gave up their land with the hope of securing stable jobs.
Around 334 land-affected families, who chose employment over monetary compensation during the first two phases of land acquisition, are still waiting for the jobs they were promised. Their patience has now turned into protest.
Saurabh Sharma, a resident of Banwaripur village, shared his disappointment. His family lost nearly 10 acres of land back in 2019 after being assured that affected members would receive employment. Despite being highly qualified, holding an MTech in automobile engineering, Sharma says he is still waiting.“We were promised jobs, but nothing has happened so far. Now we are being told that employment may come through contractors. We want stable jobs directly with the airport company,” he said.
Under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, authorities are required to offer either employment opportunities or financial compensation to families impacted by land acquisition. However, officials have clarified that the law does not mandate direct hiring by the airport’s concessionaire, Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL).
An official from the Yamuna Authority explained that it would not be practical for the concessionaire to employ all affected individuals, as many roles—such as pilots and cabin crew—require specific qualifications and are handled
by different agencies.
The protest continued through the day but was eventually called off in the evening after officials from Noida International Airport Limited met with residents and assured them that their concerns would be addressed.
So far, out of the 334 families who opted for jobs, about 181 individuals have applied for employment. The land acquisition process itself has been extensive, covering over 2,600 hectares across the first two phases, with more land expected to be acquired in the future.
For many families, the issue goes beyond compensation—it’s about trust, livelihood, and the future they were promised when they gave up their land.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
