By IANS,
Lucknow : A portion of the false ceiling at the recently inaugurated new terminal of Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport fell down Friday. No one was hurt in the incident but it caused considerable panic at the airport, officials said.
The affected portion of the false ceiling was just over the boarding area. The airport administration immediately removed the ceiling-debris from the scene of the accident.
The airport was given international status by the union cabinet Thursday (Oct 4). The new terminal at the airport was inaugurated by Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh May 19.
The 20,000 square metre, three-tier building has departure and arrival ports on the ground level. The first floor has a swanky lounge connected to two aerobridges, enabling passengers to walk straight into the waiting aircraft on the tarmac. The new terminal has six check-in counters but from day one, it has been mired in controversies over sub-standard construction.
Built at an estimated cost of Rs.120 crore, the terminal has been rocked by incidents since its inauguration in May. While rain water entered the airport’s waiting lounge in September, huge glass panes came crashing down some time later as gusty winds swept the state capital.
On Aug 16, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, referring to Central Vigilance Commission’s (CVC) complaints of irregularities in construction of the new terminal, ordered a probe into the charges.
The report submitted by the enquiry officer has prima facie substantiated various defects in the construction quality, design and maintenance of the Lucknow airport terminal, officials have admitted. This included water leakage.
The contract for construction of the new terminal was awarded in October 2007 and the stipulated date of completion was set at April 2009 but it was only handed over in May 2012, a delay of more than three years.