Medha Roopam has been appointed as the first woman District Magistrate (DM) of Gautam Buddh Nagar. Soon after taking charge on Wednesday, she said her main focus will be speeding up work on the Noida International Airport in Jewar, which has faced multiple delays.
“The first thing on my mind is the Jewar airport and its completion in a fast-track manner,” Roopam told the media. The airport, seen as a game-changer for Noida, Greater Noida, and the Yamuna Expressway region, has faced multiple delays since its foundation stone was laid in November 2021. Initially expected to be operational by September 2024, the deadline has now been extended to 30 June 2025. Cautious about setting another date, Roopam refrained from committing to a new timeline.
Roopam’s appointment comes as part of a major administrative reshuffle by the Uttar Pradesh government, in which 23 IAS officers were transferred, including DMs of key districts like Ghaziabad and Prayagraj. Her selection is widely seen as a strategic move by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to drive forward his vision for Noida’s transformation.
Having previously served as Additional CEO of the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) from February 2023 to June 2024, Roopam brings deep familiarity with the region and its challenges. “The best part is that I know the region—I’ve worked within the authority before, and now I’m the DM. So I understand both sides of the story and where the gaps are,” she said.
On her first day, Roopam held back-to-back meetings with the CEOs of the Noida Authority, Greater Noida Authority, and the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA). She stressed the need for teamwork and seamless coordination among departments. “We need to work as a team to realise the shared vision for Noida,” she asserted.
Roopam also underscored her commitment to “Jan Sewa”—public service—pledging an open-door policy to address citizens’ grievances directly. “Public grievances are the window to know what’s ailing the city. I want to know the loopholes and fix them,” she said.
Beyond the airport, she will also face long-standing challenges such as stalled housing projects, legal disputes involving builders, and the growing frustration of homebuyers in Greater Noida. “I have the homebuyers issue on my mind. I plan to take a deep dive into the concerns to understand and resolve them,” she noted.
A 2014-batch IAS officer and economics graduate from St. Stephen’s College, Roopam is also a national-level rifle shooter with three gold medals from the Kerala State Shooting Championship. Her track record includes impactful tenures, including as DM of Kasganj, where she gained praise for leading flood rescue efforts personally.
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Roopam’s vision for Gautam Buddh Nagar includes not only addressing legacy issues but also building a green, liveable urban environment. “I want to ensure that we have enough green parks where people can relax and enjoy. It’s very important,” she added.
As the daughter of Gyanesh Kumar, current Chief Election Commissioner of India and a retired Kerala cadre IAS officer, and the spouse of Saharanpur DM Manish Bansal, public service runs in Roopam’s veins. Now, all eyes are on her leadership as she takes the reins of one of Uttar Pradesh’s most dynamic districts.