Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 24 July 2023
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI (M)] has raised serious concerns over the construction of the new Terminal building at Port Blair Airport, demanding a thorough investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into alleged corruption and poor quality of work. In a letter addressed to Mr. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of India, New Delhi, the Secretary of CPI (M) A & N State Organising Committee, D. Ayyappan, called for immediate action against officials and the contractor firm involved, both directly and indirectly, in the project.
The controversy emerged after a portion of the ceiling in the newly inaugurated terminal building got dislocated on 22nd July 2023 late at night, only a few days after it was inaugurated in a virtual ceremony attended by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and the Minister of Civil Aviation, along with other dignitaries.
According to Ayyappan’s letter, the incident has sent shock waves among the local population and visiting tourists, who were dismayed to witness the structural failure. Fortunately, the terminal building is yet to commence its operations due to pending minor interior works. However, Ayyappan pointed out that had the terminal been operational during the collapse, it could have resulted in fatal accidents involving passengers.
“The situation is a matter of shame for the Government of India and the agencies responsible for overseeing the construction of the terminal. The safety of Islanders and tourists has been put at risk due to the callous attitude of the Airport Authority of India and other involved agencies,” expressed Ayyappan in his letter.
The CPI (M) has emphasised the urgency of investigating the incident thoroughly, stating that the CBI’s involvement would help uncover the extent of corruption and potential criminal negligence surrounding the construction of the terminal building.
The political party holds the authorities responsible for supervising the construction work, as well as the contractor/firm responsible for executing the project, accountable for the unfortunate incident. CPI (M) expressed its strong belief that a CBI investigation would shed light on the root causes of the damage and unveil any corrupt practices that may have plagued the construction process.
“Apart from a thorough CBI investigation, the contractor/firm responsible for the flawed construction of the Terminal Building must be blacklisted immediately. Restoring confidence among the islanders and visiting tourists is crucial,” demanded Ayyappan.