Security Risk at Rajkot Hirasar International Airport: CISF Deployed, Runway Wall Unrepaired
An international airport has been constructed at Hirasar near Chotila on the Rajkot-Ahmedabad highway at the cost of ₹2,654 crore. However, within just a year of its completion, signs of corruption in the construction work have begun to emerge. Previously, a canopy near the terminal building collapsed, and on August 26, 2024, a 15-foot-long and 50-foot-wide wall also crumbled, leading to security risks as immediate repairs were not possible. The CISF personnel have been ordered to maintain a 24-hour vigil, but the wall has yet to be repaired. It is surprising that the CISF now has to ensure the security of the airport using the boundary wall.
Wall Collapse Causes Crop Damage Worth ₹2.5-3 Lakh
The collapse of the airport wall has led to damage to crops in the field of the Chotila Loma Kotdi village sarpanch’s brother, resulting in an estimated loss of ₹2.5-3 lakh. Despite this, no official statement has been released by the airport director regarding the wall collapse.
Sarpanch Claims Corruption Behind Wall Collapse
Mulubha Gadhvi, the sarpanch of Loma Kotdi village in Chotila, stated that the collapse of the wall at Rajkot International Airport was due to corruption in the construction work. The 15-foot-high and 50-foot-wide wall suddenly collapsed during heavy rain, causing leveling damage to his brother Ranabha’s field and an estimated loss of ₹3 lakh. The sudden water overflow also destroyed the jowar crop in the field. The sarpanch demands compensation from the airport authority or the state government. Additionally, the road from Rampar Beti to Dosli Bhuna, near the airport wall, is in a severely dilapidated condition, and several mud houses in Loma Kotdi village collapsed during the rain. The airport wall still awaits repair.
Heavy Rain Exposes Flaws in Airport Construction
On Monday, the 15-foot wall along the runway of Rajkot International Airport collapsed. The exclusive scenes were first shown by Divya Bhaskar, revealing the poor quality of work done on the newly constructed international airport. Heavy rain caused a massive section of the runway border wall to collapse, leading to panic. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but many questions have been raised about the work done by the contractor. The airport authority has yet to take action against the contractor or announce when the wall will be repaired.
MP Calls for Immediate Repairs at Airport
Rajkot’s Rajya Sabha MP, Ram Mokriya, stated that upon learning about the collapsed wall at Rajkot International Airport, he immediately urged the airport director to start repair work and ensure strict security with CISF personnel.
Canopy Collapsed During Normal Rain
On June 29, the dome canopy at Rajkot International Airport collapsed in the afternoon. The canopy fell near the departure gate, but fortunately, there were no casualties. However, the incident left passengers terrified.
Hirasar Airport Built at a Cost of ₹2,654 Crore
It is noteworthy that Rajkot International Airport, located near the Rajkot-Ahmedabad highway, was constructed just a year ago at a cost of ₹2,654 crore and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 27, 2023. Flights began operating from the airport in September. However, within a year of its construction, several instances of shoddy work by the contractor have come to light.
