Nothing seems to be going right for Chennai airport’s new domestic terminal.

Plagued by problems since its launch a few weeks ago, in the wee hours of Monday a portion of the false ceiling in the security hold area collapsed, “following an unexpected downpour combined with heavy winds,” according to airport officials.

According to this official, 75 sq. metres of the false ceiling in the security hold area (near the H1 and H2 gates) in the ground floor fell down at 1.38 a.m. Though reports that came early in the day said three loaders suffered bruises, the Joint General Manager (Engg-Civil) in a press release denied this saying “there was no injury at all to anybody”. As there were no flights at that time, no passenger was present, he said.

An undated ‘press brief’ from the Executive Director’s office said the material of the ceiling comprised gypsum board and optra fibre, and was supported from the roof. The strong wind swept through the “enclosed area and somehow created a tunnelling effect”, and brought down the boards, according to the note.

The repair work has started in full swing and the gates are expected to be operational from Tuesday (May 14), it added. AAI sources in Delhi indicated that the cost of the repair work will be about Rs 2 lakh.

“This is nothing compared to other serious lapses in the airport such as unhygienic toilets, leaking air-conditioning ducts and several incomplete portions in the terminal building,” said a senior executive of a hotel company, who came from Mumbai on Monday morning.

“Half the toilets are not working,” said the visibly upset passenger.

After a five-year-long wait, the new domestic terminal at the Chennai airport opened its doors to passengers in mid-April, that too in phases. The delay in project completion had resulted in a Rs 200 crore cost overrun, taking the total cost to Rs 2,015 crore against an estimated Rs 1,800 crore.

ravikumar.r@thehindu.co.in

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