Airports Authority of India (AAI) has decided to carry out an extensive study about the flooding of the Chennai airport during the rains in December last.
IIT-Madras has presented a preliminary report to the Chennai airport and based on its recommendations, modifications and repairs are being carried out to make the facility flood-proof.
Airport director Deepak Shastri said, “We have completed 60 per cent of work on the boundary wall of the airport. The rest of the wall has to be strengthened so that next time such a disaster strikes, there is no flooding on the airport premises.”
Experts from the IIT noted that there was extra pressure from the Adyar river water at two locations of the boundary wall, he added.
“Based on this report, we had started the strengthening work sometime ago but we want to go further and carry out an extensive study for developing a full-fledged mitigation plan. They will look at how the carrying capacity can be increased,” he added.
A consultant will carry out the study and give recommendations, he said. “We will soon call for tenders for the appointment of the consultant and we hope this work will be completed in six months,” he added.
During the floods that hit the city in December last year, Chennai Airport was severely affected and shut down for at least four days.
The runway was flooded and flight operations were suspended.
Subsequently, it was discovered that owing to the floods, the boundary wall had been damaged at various locations and repair work was started.
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