AAI spent Rs 796 cr for repairs, maintenance works of 101 airports last fiscal

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) spent nearly 20 percent more, a total of Rs 796 crore, on repairs and maintenance for 101 airports in the last financial year, as per official data.

This amount has been increasing since the fiscal year 2021-22. In the last financial year, the expenditure on these activities rose to Rs 795.72 crore compared to Rs 663.42 crore in 2022-23 and Rs 535.02 crore in 2021-22, based on data shared by the civil aviation ministry with the Rajya Sabha.

The figures account for 121 AAI airports, and interestingly, no money was spent on maintenance for 20 airports. Concerns regarding maintenance of airport buildings came up after incidents like the collapse of the forecourt canopy at Terminal 1D of the Delhi airport and torn canopies at Jabalpur Airport and Rajkot Airport.

As a response, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol mentioned that all airport operators are required to conduct a third-party audit of the structural stability of airport buildings and associated infrastructures, while also evaluating civil, electrical, and technical aspects of the buildings, including the design, specifications, and workmanship of the roof sheeting structure before the onset of the monsoon every year.

Additionally, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducts inspections of licensed airports for airside infrastructure. AAI and public-private partnership (PPP) partners have planned a capital expenditure of over Rs 91,000 crore from 2019-20 to 2024-25 for the development, upgradation, and modernization of various airports.