All airports to conduct third-party structural stability audits; GOI

23 Jul 2024 CW Team

The government announced that all airport operators have been directed to carry out third-party audits of the structural stability of airport buildings and associated infrastructure. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu inspects the Delhi airport where a portion of the roof of Terminal-1 collapsed amid heavy rainfall, in New Delhi. The directive comes after roof collapse incidents at three airports last month. During heavy rains on June 28, the forecourt canopy at Terminal 1D of the Delhi airport collapsed. Additionally, the tensile fabric canopy, a non-structural element, was damaged at Jabalpur and Rajkot airports on June 27 and 29, respectively. In 2023-24, Rs 7.95 billion was spent on Repair and Maintenance (R&M) at 121 airports operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), according to official data submitted to the Rajya Sabha. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu told the Upper House that the ministry has constituted a high-level expert committee of structural engineers from IIT Delhi to assess the incident at the Delhi airport and submit a report. All airport operators are directed to conduct third-party audits of structural stability through reputed institutions like IITs, NITs, CBRI, and EIL. Operators must thoroughly evaluate all civil, electrical, and technical aspects of buildings, including the design, specifications, and workmanship of roof structures before the monsoon season each year. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will continue regular surveillance and spot inspections to ensure compliance with these standards. In a separate reply, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol stated that the AAI has initiated investigations to determine the root causes of the incidents at Jabalpur and Rajkot airports. Minister Mohol highlighted that, excluding the COVID years, expenditure on R&M activities at airports has increased. He noted that using R&M expenditure as a percentage of revenue is not an appropriate metric for assessing trends over time due to various influencing factors. Revenue can increase for reasons unrelated to R&M expenses, while R&M costs can rise due to factors like asset age, normal wear and tear, and vendor charges for maintenance contracts. The government?s proactive measures, including the mandated third-party audits and annual evaluations, aim to ensure the structural stability and safety of airport infrastructure across India. These steps are part of a broader effort to enhance the resilience and reliability of the nation's airports in the face of increasing demands and environmental challenges. (Source:BS & PTI)

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