Noida: Noida International Airport’s attempt to evoke the ghats of Varanasi found an unintended echo on Tuesday afternoon when rainwater pooled around the forecourt connecting its terminal and parking area. The underground passage, designed to resemble the iconic riverfront steps, was left ankle-deep in water after a spell of heavy rain, forcing airport staff to rush in with pumps.The forecourt is a key pedestrian link between the taxi stand, parking area and terminal building, with a departure kerbside road running above it. A travelator in the passage was switched off during the waterlogging.This was an embarrassing moment for the airport, which started commercial operations barely a couple of months ago and has consistently advertised itself as a combination of Indian culture and Swiss engineering. Noida International Airport is operated by YIAPL, a subsidiary of Swiss giant Zurich AG.Videos of the flooded area soon surfaced on social media, showing airport staff clearing the water as passengers navigated the wet passage. Officials at the airport, which was inaugurated only months ago, said the waterlogging was temporary and had no impact on flight operations.“Noida International Airport experienced extremely heavy rainfall over a short period, following which rainwater temporarily entered the passage connecting the terminal with the parking area. Our teams responded promptly and cleared the water within 30 minutes. There was no impact on flight operations or the overall functioning of the airport,” a post uploaded on the airport’s official handle read.Traffic was rerouted through an alternative route for some time, while passengers could be picked up directly at the kerb. “As a result, there was minimal impact on operations, and no flights were disrupted. Our team is looking into the incident and will take corrective action where required,” an official said.Noida recorded 27mm of rain on Tuesday.RK Singh, the CEO of Yamuna Expressway Authority — which holds administrative jurisdiction over the area — said there was no waterlogging on the apron or runway. “Yes, there was some waterlogging in the parking area, which was cleared soon after. During heavy rain, there is slight waterlogging even at IGI Airport,” he pointed out.The airport’s senior management did not comment on what caused the waterlogging or measures it planned to prevent a recurrence.The incident also drew a political attack, with Aam Aadmi Party alleging that the waterlogging raised questions over the quality of construction at the airport. “Noida International Airport, built at a cost of around Rs 11,200 crore and inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi just six months ago, appeared to expose the alleged corruption of the govt and substandard construction when it faced its first spell of rain today,” the party said on X.Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Noida International Airport on March 28, while commercial operations began on June 15. The airport handled 61,287 passengers in its first month and currently operates 224 flights a week.
Pumps were used to flush the water out in about 30 minutes
NIA officials examine the situation after the flooding
