After Delhi Airport canopy collapse, government enlists CBRI to advise airport operators on structural safety – Infrastructure News

In response to a series of structural failures at various airports, including the partial collapse of a canopy at Terminal 1 (T1) of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport in June, the Indian government has enlisted the expertise of the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI). The Roorkee-based CBRI has been tasked with advising airport operators across the country on structural safety and integrity.

The decision to engage CBRI follows several concerning incidents, including canopy collapses at Jabalpur and Rajkot airports in June. A senior official from the Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that the CBRI will guide the structural aspects of airport infrastructure, ensuring operators take necessary precautions to prevent such occurrences in the future.

In addition to CBRI’s involvement, the ministry is also organizing a technical workshop for airport operators, where experts from the institute will provide specialized training on structural safety and resilience.

Pune Airport to be renamed as Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj International Airport

Supreme Court rejects SpiceJet’s appeal against Delhi HC order to ground three aircraft engines

‘Airfare hike unrelated to rising airport charges’, says ACI

Semicon 2.0 scheme to cover large design firms too, raise subsidy

Incident at Delhi Airport

On June 28, a partial collapse of a canopy at the old departure forecourt of T1 in Delhi resulted in one fatality and injuries to nine others. Heavy rains at the time of the incident were a significant contributing factor. The structural failure prompted an immediate review by structural engineers from IIT Delhi. The ministry is now reviewing the report from IIT Delhi and is continuing to examine the structural integrity of the rest of T1.

Broader Inspection and Study

In the aftermath of the incident at Delhi’s Terminal 1, the ministry ordered the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to conduct inspections of all major and minor airports across the country. This comprehensive review is aimed at identifying any structural vulnerabilities and ensuring that airports can withstand extreme weather conditions and other stressors.

According to ministry sources, a detailed structural study of Terminals 2 and 3 at the Delhi airport is also underway, conducted by a team from IIT Madras. However, DIAL (Delhi International Airport Ltd), which operates the Delhi airport, has yet to provide an official comment on the study’s progress.

Nationwide Review of Airport Infrastructure

The CBRI’s advisory role is part of a broader initiative to safeguard India’s airport infrastructure. The structural study at airports managed by AAI is ongoing, with a focus on both minor and major facilities. Following the June 28 incident, the AAI was directed to issue a circular instructing all airports under its jurisdiction to conduct thorough inspections of their structural strength.

The ministry emphasised the importance of these inspections in its statement, noting that findings from the studies would inform future safety measures and long-term policies to prevent similar incidents. These measures are seen as crucial as India’s aviation sector continues to expand, with 157 operational airports, heliports, and waterdromes currently in service and more expected to open in the coming years.

In June, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol informed Rajya Sabha that the tensile fabric canopies at Jabalpur and Rajkot airports had torn during incidents on June 27 and 29, respectively. Investigations into the causes of these failures are underway.

As air travel continues to rise, ensuring the safety and reliability of airport infrastructure is a key priority for both the government and airport operators. With the involvement of CBRI, IIT Delhi, and IIT Madras, authorities aim to address structural vulnerabilities and restore confidence in airport safety.

(With PTI inputs)

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}