In Political Row Over Delhi Airport Roof Collapse, Govt's 'Built In 2009' Reply To Oppn's 'Opened In March' Charge

The roof that collapsed at Delhi airport’s Terminal 1 on Friday after heavy rainfall was constructed during 2008-09, according to government sources, who appeared to reject the Opposition’s criticism that the accident site was inaugurated in haste before the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year.

Union Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, who visited the site of the collapse that killed one person and injured at least six others, too said that the affected structure was built in 2009. Flight operations were suspended at Delhi airport’s Terminal 1, which is used for domestic flights, till further notice.

“Following the collapse of the Delhi T1 terminal this morning, I have personally inspected the site. Our immediate priority was the safe evacuation of all passengers from the terminal. Consequently, all flights scheduled until 2 PM have been canceled. Passengers will receive full refunds or have the option to rebook on alternative flights and routes. Flights scheduled to depart after 2 PM will be operated from T2 and T3,” Naidu said in a statement.

“We are committed to providing compensation to the family of the deceased and to those injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is closely monitoring the situation and has assured us of full support. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this unfortunate event,” he added.

 ‘Seriously’

The incident happened around 5 am at the departure area of Terminal 1 (T1) at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) amid heavy rains in the national capital. The civil aviation ministry on Friday said heavy rain has resulted in the collapse of the canopy of Delhi airport T1. Earlier today, the union aviation minister, in a public statement, said that the centre is taking this incident seriously.

“I want to clarify that the building inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on the other side, and the building that collapsed here is an old building and was opened in 2009,” he told reporters. “We have asked DIAL to do the verification and checks as well. Ministry officials will also inspect and submit their report,” he said.

Besides the roof sheet, the support beams collapsed, damaging the cars parked in the pick-up and drop area of the terminal. A search operation was conducted to make sure no one was trapped inside the damaged vehicles. The injured persons have been admitted to Medanta Hospital near the airport. Of the six injured, one person was rescued from a car on which an iron beam had fallen.

Commenting on the Delhi airport roof collapse, Congress party chief Mallikarjun Kharge wrote on X, “Corruption and criminal negligence are responsible for the collapse of shoddy infrastructure falling like a deck of cards in the past 10 years of Modi Govt.” Kharge’s remark came after Congress leader Surendra Singh Rajput claimed, “BJP’s and PM Modi’s corruption is now visible to everyone. He inaugurated the same terminal. A senior minister’s car could also have been there.”

‘UPA was in power’

Responding to Congress allegations, BJP’s IT chief Amit Malviya said, “The part of T1 that collapsed was opened in 2009, when Congress-led UPA was in power. In those days there was no concept of quality check and contracts were given to whoever sent the biggest kickback to the ruling Congress. Sonia Gandhi, who was then the super PM, must answer.”

Delhi International Airport Limited, or DIAL, is a joint venture formed as a consortium between GMR Airports Limited, the Airports Authority of India, and Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide. The government sources cited above said the work for the affected part when it was built was given to private contractors by GMR. The clarification came after Congress leaders suggested that the part of the airport where the roof collapsed was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in March this year.