Noida Film City Latest Update (September 2026): Yamuna Expressway Project Status, Timeline & Phase 1 Plans

The latest update on Noida Film City on the Yamuna Expressway: as of September 2026, the International Film City in YEIDA Sector 21 is still in its pre-construction stage. The land has been handed over, the layout plan approved and a developer chosen (Bayview, the joint venture of producer Boney Kapoor and the Bhutani Group). But in mid-August 2026, news reports said full-scale construction had not yet started because financial closure was still pending. Below is a clear timeline, what phase 1 will include, how it differs from the old Film City in Sector 16A, and what it means for visitors and homebuyers.

Two Different “Noida Film Cities”

People often mix up two projects:

	Film City, Sector 16A, Noida	International Film City, YEIDA Sector 21
Status	Working since the late 1980s	Planned; pre-construction as of September 2026
Size	About 100 acres	About 1,000 acres planned (phase 1: about 230 acres)
Main use today	TV news channels, broadcast studios and media offices	Future film studios, sound stages, film institute and allied commercial space
Location	Near DND Flyway and Sector 18	Along the Yamuna Expressway, near Jewar airport

This article is about the new project on the Yamuna Expressway. The Sector 16A Film City, founded in 1988, remains a busy media hub. Many national TV channels work from there.

Noida Film City Timeline: From Announcement to 2026

Date	Milestone (as reported)
September 2020	UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a new film city near Noida.
2021	A feasibility report prepared by CBRE South Asia was approved by the UP government. A detailed project report was approved around August 2021.
November 2021 and November 2022	Two global tenders drew no successful bidder.
Late 2023	YEIDA issued a third tender for about 230 acres.
January 2024	Bayview Projects LLP emerged as the top bidder, offering an 18% revenue share. Other bidders included T-Series and groups linked to Akshay Kumar and K.C. Bokadia.
27 June 2024	YEIDA signed the concession agreement with the Boney Kapoor–Bhutani entity. The project was expected to take eight years, with the first phase in about three.
30 January 2025	Master plan approved (reported by ETV Bharat).
27 February 2025	Site handed over to the developer.
April 2025	YEIDA began building connecting ramps near the 24 km point of the Yamuna Expressway, at about ₹3.24 crore.
June 2025	Phase 1 layout plan approved. A bhoomi pujan with the Chief Minister was scheduled for 26 June 2025.
April 2026	Millennium Post reported that a foundation-stone ceremony was planned for 24 April 2026, YEIDA’s 25th foundation day. It noted that construction had not started.
June 2026	Outlook Business reported that the project had moved closer to execution, with preparatory work under way and approvals in place.
August 2026	Free Press Journal reported that construction still had not begun. A YEIDA official said financial closure was mandatory before work could start. The developer said closure was expected within a week and targeted construction by the end of August.

Reports from 2025–2026 do not agree on whether the June 2025 ceremony was a full foundation-stone event, and on how far financing had progressed by mid-2026. The safest reading as of September 2026 is this: the approvals and land are in place, and heavy construction is only now expected to begin. Treat any promised completion date with caution. Watch YEIDA’s official Film City page for formal updates.

Why Has It Taken So Long?

News reports point to three main reasons for the delays:

• Weak early interest: The first two global tenders failed, and YEIDA had to change terms before a third round drew serious bids.
• Land issues: Free Press Journal reported disputes over about 120 bighas of land. YEIDA says these have since been resolved.
• Approvals and financing: Building plans, green-cover and safety compliance and, finally, financial closure each took months.

What Phase 1 Will Include

Most reports from 2025–2026 describe a phase 1 of about 230 acres (some say about 240). It is focused on production infrastructure before any commercial development:

• 13–14 sound stages of different sizes for film, TV and web series
• A film and television institute, with about 21 acres earmarked for training
• Permanent outdoor sets and open ground for outdoor shoots
• An underwater shooting studio / water tank and a virtual production studio with large LED walls
• Post-production facilities such as editing, dubbing, VFX and sound
• Planned later: actor accommodation, a convention centre, a film museum, and commercial and retail areas

The developer holds the land under a long-term licence, reported as 90 years. Later phases would develop the rest of the roughly 1,000 acres, including entertainment and hospitality zones. YEIDA’s project page also mentions a proposed pod-taxi link between the Film City and Noida International Airport.

Why the Location Matters

The site sits in the growth corridor along the 165 km Yamuna Expressway, close to the new Noida International Airport at Jewar. The planners hope producers will be able to fly in, shoot and fly out without crossing Delhi traffic. Other large projects nearby include YEIDA’s industrial sectors, the medical devices park and, further north, the Buddh International Circuit. If you drive out to see the area, check the current Yamuna Expressway toll rates first.

What It Means for Different People

For visitors and film fans

There is nothing to tour yet. No studio tours, theme park or public viewing area exists as of September 2026. Some videos and listings suggest you can “visit Noida Film City on the Yamuna Expressway”. In most cases they mean the old Sector 16A campus, or they are describing future plans.

For homebuyers and investors

The Film City is often used in property marketing along the Yamuna Expressway. It may well add value in the long run. But the project has already slipped several years past its first target (a 2023 opening was once discussed). Base your decision on the project’s actual stage, the builder’s RERA registration and delivery record, not on brochure promises about the Film City’s opening.

For job seekers and students

Officials and developers have made large employment claims, ranging from tens of thousands of direct jobs to several lakh direct and indirect jobs. Those numbers depend on the whole project being built. The film institute planned for phase 1 is likely to be the first concrete opening for students, but no admission timeline had been announced as of September 2026.

Tips: How to Read Noida Film City News

• Check the date on every article. Headlines like “work to begin soon” have appeared every year since 2021.
• Look for the words “financial closure” and “building plan approval”. These are the real signals that construction can start.
• Separate the two film cities. Anything about TV channels, news studios or Sector 16A refers to the old Film City.
• Be wary of “Film City facing” plot offers. Verify plots through YEIDA schemes or RERA-registered projects only.
• Prefer official sources: YEIDA notices and press statements from the UP government carry more weight than property blogs.

Things You Can Do in the Area Right Now

If you want to explore the Yamuna Expressway belt today, there are working attractions nearby. See our guide to places to visit in Greater Noida for parks, the Buddh circuit, malls and bird sanctuaries you can visit this weekend.

Noida Film City on the Yamuna Expressway has moved from announcement to approved plans, a chosen developer and a handed-over site. Six years on, though, the shift to real construction was only expected around late August 2026. Keep an eye on YEIDA for confirmation that financial closure is done and building has begun. Until then, treat opening dates as targets, not promises.