The roof collapse at Terminal 1 of Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, following heavy rainfall, has raised doubts about the quality of India’s rapid infrastructure growth. Amidst Prime Minister Modi’s ambitious infrastructure plans, the incident, along with other construction failures, has ignited debates on the nation’s construction standards.
A roof collapse at Terminal 1 of New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport raised concerns about India’s rapid infrastructure development. The incident occurred after heavy rainfall, resulting in one fatality, damage to vehicles, and suspension of terminal operations. This comes amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious $1 trillion infrastructure initiative, which includes a $12 billion investment in new and expanded airports.
India aims to rival global aviation hubs and has nearly doubled its operational airports since Modi took office in 2014. However, this latest collapse, among other incidents, has sparked debates on the quality and pace of construction. Notably, a new terminal at Jabalpur Airport also experienced a partial collapse due to heavy rains, just months after its inauguration.
The Indian government has pledged a comprehensive examination of the Delhi terminal’s structure by experts. Opposition leaders have criticized the current administration, labeling recent infrastructure failures as indicative of shoddy construction practices. In a related incident on the same day, three children died, and five were critically injured when an under-construction house collapsed in Khodna Kala village due to heavy rain.
