Rain Causes Shed Collapse At Jabalpur Airport, Exposes Corruption
Pune, 28th June 2024: A sudden collapse of the shed over the drop-and-go zone at Jabalpur’s Dumna Airport during Thursday morning’s rain has highlighted potential corruption in its construction. The incident resulted in severe damage to a government vehicle parked below, though fortunately, no one was inside at the time. The incident has raised serious questions about the 450 crore rupee construction project at the airport, which was inaugurated just three months ago, sparking widespread discussions in the city.
According to reports, a car had arrived at Dumna Airport to drop off a passenger when a part of the iron shed suddenly fell on it, causing significant damage. The chaos ensued immediately after the accident, with airport authorities rushing to manage the situation.
450 Crore Spent on Airport Construction
The terminal building’s porch had been fitted with a canopy tent to prevent rainwater from entering. However, the rainwater could not drain from the canopy, and the increasing weight caused a part of the iron structure to collapse onto the car. Following the incident, the director of Jabalpur Dumna Airport has ordered an investigation into the technical fault responsible for the collapse.
State Public Works Minister Rakesh Singh commented on the incident, stating that it would be thoroughly investigated. He assured that guidelines would be established to prevent such occurrences in the future.
The expansion of Dumna Airport, carried out over the past three years with a budget of approximately 450 crore rupees, included the construction of the terminal building, an Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, runway expansion, parking facilities, and a modern waiting lounge. The project aimed to provide state-of-the-art facilities for air passengers, with security managed by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had virtually laid the foundation stone and inaugurated the airport on March 10.
This incident, occurring just months after the inauguration, raises significant questions about the quality and integrity of the construction work. Authorities are now under pressure to address these concerns and ensure the safety and reliability of the airport infrastructure.
