The comprehensive technical study of Delhi Airport’s currently closed Terminal 1 (T1) is expected to be completed within a month. Based on the findings, a decision will be made regarding the resumption of operations at the terminal, PTI cited a senior government official stated on Sunday.
According to the official information, in the meantime, all flights from T1 have been relocated to Terminal 2 (T2) and Terminal 3 (T3), which will continue to operate as usual.
A canopy at the old departure courtyard of Terminal 1 partially collapsed amid heavy rains which resulted in the death of a person on June 28. The accident also caused injuries to at least six people.
Measures taken after accident
After the incident, the civil aviation ministry informed that structural engineers from IIT Delhi would immediately assess the partial collapse of the canopy.
The official stated that the technical study of Terminal 1 (T1) is expected to take about a month. Once the findings are available, a decision will be made regarding the resumption of operations at T1.
The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), operated by a GMR Group-led consortium DIAL, has three terminals—T1, T2, and T3—and handles around 1,400 flight movements daily. T1 was primarily used for domestic flight operations by IndiGo and SpiceJet.
The official mentioned that 72 IndiGo flights have been relocated from T1 to T2, and 17 flights have been moved to T3. All these flights are currently operational.
Two informed sources indicated that it may take a few months before operations can resume at Terminal 1 (T1).
In response to detailed queries about T1, DIAL stated that its cross-functional teams are actively evaluating the situation and engaging with various stakeholders to ensure passenger safety and convenience. They emphasized their commitment to maintaining flight operations at Terminal 3 (T3) and Terminal 2 (T2) while operations at T1 are temporarily suspended. DIAL expressed appreciation for the understanding and support of all stakeholders.
Regarding business losses for concessionaires operating shops and services at T1, DIAL mentioned that the evaluation process is still ongoing, making it too early to provide specific details.
As a precautionary measure, all flight operations from T1 have been suspended until further notice. The expanded T1, with an increased capacity to handle 40 million passengers from the previous 17 million, is yet to be fully operational.
The roof collapse incident at T1 is being assessed, with heavy rainfall identified as the primary cause. According to the Indian Meteorological Department, Delhi Safdarjung recorded 228.1mm of rain in 24 hours on Friday, the highest June rainfall in 85 years for the area, compared to an average of 75.2 mm over the last 30 years.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and a technical committee set up by DIAL will investigate the roof collapse incident. Meanwhile, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has been directed to issue a circular to all minor and major airports to conduct a thorough inspection of structural strength.
Based on the findings, the need for increased safety measures and the development of long-term policies to prevent such incidents will be prioritized, according to a statement from the ministry.