Delhi Airport Terminal 1 to stay closed for next 30 days as IIT Delhi structural engineers conduct assessment
Delhi Airport Terminal 1 to stay closed for next 30 days as IIT Delhi structural engineers conduct assessment. (PTI)
Structural engineers from IIT Delhi, appointed by the civil aviation ministry, are set to conclude an independent assessment of the roof collapse at Delhi airport’s T1 within a month, as confirmed by a senior official. Pending the assessment’s findings and considering all relevant factors, a decision on resuming operations at the terminal will follow.
All flights originally scheduled from T1 have been relocated to Terminal 2 (T2) and Terminal 3 (T3), with uninterrupted service, according to the senior government official.
The incident occurred on June 28 when a canopy at T1’s old departure forecourt partially collapsed during heavy rains, resulting in one fatality and injuries to at least six individuals.
Following the event, the civil aviation ministry promptly engaged structural engineers from IIT Delhi to conduct an immediate assessment of the canopy’s collapse. The ministry expects the engineers to complete their independent assessment within one month.
Delhi airport T1 operations updates
Upon receipt of their findings, a decision will be made regarding the resumption of operations at T1, the official confirmed. Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), managed by a consortium led by GMR Group under DIAL, operates three terminals—T1, T2, and T3—handling approximately 1,400 flights daily.
T1 was primarily used for domestic flights by IndiGo and SpiceJet. IndiGo’s 72 flights have been relocated to T2 and T3, while 17 flights are now operating from T3, ensuring minimal disruption to flight schedules, the official noted.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu chaired a meeting with regulators, DIAL and airline officials to review measures ensuring smooth operations and additional staffing at T2 and T3 to manage increased passenger traffic. Naidu visited the Airport Operations Control Centre (AOCC) to oversee operations as T2 and T3 handle T1’s traffic.
The ministry activated passenger assistance war rooms to facilitate coordination between DIAL and airlines, ensuring seamless services for affected passengers.
SpiceJet announced that all flights to and from Delhi from July 1-7, 2024, will operate exclusively from Terminal 3, with notifications sent to passengers via registered contact details.
Sources familiar with the matter suggest that T1’s full operational restoration may take several months. DIAL assured ongoing evaluation by cross-functional teams and engagement with stakeholders to ensure passenger safety and convenience during this period.
Operations at T1 remain suspended as a precautionary measure, with further updates pending. The expanded T1, now capable of accommodating 40 million passengers annually, has yet to reach full operational capacity. While investigations into the canopy collapse continue, initial assessments point to heavy rainfall as a primary contributing factor.