Formula 1 is one of the biggest sporting events in the world and having it back in the Buddh International circuit is a very big deal. But if we look at this carefully the picture is much bigger than you think.

Because this has happened before. Last time also people said the same things. This area will change, this is the turning point, this is the next big thing. And for a while it did feel like that.

But nothing really stayed.

What’s changed since the last time F1 came?

I’ve been to the Yamuna Expressway earlier. It didn’t feel like a place where things were actually happening. 

Now when you go, you see that a lot has changed. Industrial clusters have come up, logistics parks are expanding and educational institutions are already drawing students.

And that’s why this time it feels different.

Even people who are asking about investing there are not saying it just because of F1. Earlier it was excitement. Now it’s more like they’re trying to understand if it actually is going to make sense in the long run.

Which is fair because F1 itself is not going to build anything. It didn’t do it last time. It just brings attention.

For a few days everything will be busy. That’s obvious. But that doesn’t last.

What matters is what happens after that.

Are people still there?
Is there work happening?
Are people actually using that area?

That’s what decides things for future.

Not F1, this is the real game changer

The Noida International Airport at Jewar is probably the biggest reason this area now feels different. The airport is expected to handle around 12 million passengers in a year and the number is going to get bigger. It may reach 70 million passengers a year. This is going to generate demand for offices, hotel, warehousing and housing.

The biggest change between now and 2011 is that the growth of Yamuna Expressway is not dependent on F1 anymore. There are so many things happening at the same time. Film city is another dimension. On the top of it is F1, adding global visibility. This time the growth is going to be consistent.

And this is how Formula 1 fits in this question. It will act like a welcome bonus for Yamuna Expressway and it is one of the many reasons to believe in this region.

That is what makes this moment different from the last one.