Rajkot International Airport Faces Fresh Scrutiny After Aerobridge Develops Leaks During Rain

Three years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rajkot International Airport, reports of construction defects have once again surfaced. The airport, located around 30 km from Rajkot near Hirasar and inaugurated in July 2023, has faced repeated issues despite being a major infrastructure project.

The latest concern emerged after rainwater leaked into the airport's aerobridge the enclosed passage through which passengers walk between the terminal and aircraft during routine rainfall. The leakage reportedly caused waterlogging inside the structure, prompting airport authorities to take immediate action. The aerobridge is estimated to have been built at a cost of around ₹326 crore, and the incident has raised allegations of poor construction quality and possible irregularities.

The Rajkot International Airport was developed as a greenfield airport at an initial cost of ₹1,405 crore. While it was inaugurated with much fanfare as a major infrastructure project for Saurashtra, no international flights have commenced from the airport so far, despite its "international" status.

Issues reported since the airport became operational

Since operations shifted from the old Race Course airport to the new facility in September 2023, several shortcomings have been reported:

1. Complaints regarding the availability of drinking water and poor mobile network connectivity.
2. Despite monthly passenger traffic crossing one lakh, no international flights have started, while domestic connectivity also remains limited.
3. In June 2024, the canopy at the passenger pick-up and drop-off area collapsed, reportedly due to poor construction.
4. More recently, a bird-hit incident forced an aircraft to circle and return before landing safely.

The latest leakage in the aerobridge has once again raised concerns over the quality of construction at the airport and the pace of development of its intended international operations.