Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL) has sought a detailed report from Yamuna International Airport Pvt. Ltd. (YIAPL) over water accumulation reported in the airport's parking area following rainfall — an incident that quickly drew political criticism from the Samajwadi Party and Congress, questioning the project's arrangements and functioning.
NIAL's Clarification
NIAL Chief Executive Officer Rakesh Kumar Singh was quick to clarify the scale of the issue, stating that the rainfall did not cause any waterlogging on the runway or apron area. According to him, only a small amount of water accumulated temporarily in the parking area, and it was cleared immediately. The issue gained wider attention after videos and images showing water in parts of the airport premises began circulating online, prompting both public concern and political criticism, along with calls from local representatives for a review of the airport's drainage arrangements.
NIAL Seeks a Detailed Report From the Developer
NIAL has formally asked YIAPL, the company developing the airport, to provide a detailed report on the waterlogging episode. The reported accumulation occurred specifically in the area connecting the airport terminal and parking facilities following rainfall, and the matter came into public focus after a video of the accumulation went viral online.
Singh reiterated that the runway and apron remained unaffected, with only light water accumulation noticed in the parking area for a limited period before it was removed through prompt action. NIAL's decision to seek a formal report from YIAPL suggests the airport authority is now examining exactly what caused the accumulation and reviewing the rainwater drainage arrangements in place for that section of the airport.
Political Reactions From Samajwadi Party and Congress
The Samajwadi Party and Congress didn't waste time using this incident to raise broader questions about the airport project. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav posted about the matter on X, sarcastically questioning whether boats would now be needed at the airport, and linked the incident to broader allegations of corruption against the BJP government.
Congress also weighed in with a critical post on X, questioning the government's claims regarding its development projects after images of the waterlogging surfaced. These political reactions followed the circulation of photographs and videos showing rainwater collected in parts of the parking area.
NIAL, for its part, maintained that the incident was limited strictly to the parking section and did not affect any key operational areas of the airport, reiterating that neither the runway nor the apron experienced any waterlogging.
Local Representatives Weigh In
Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh visited the site on Wednesday to inspect the situation firsthand. He stated that waterlogging or any technical shortcomings wouldn't be ignored and asked the concerned officials to review the drainage system and ensure necessary corrective measures were taken.
Member of Parliament Dr. Mahesh Sharma also responded to the controversy, suggesting that some people seemed eager to criticise a major project like the Noida airport, and objected to videos being circulated to mock the project over what he characterised as rainwater collecting for just a few minutes.
What Happens Next
This episode has brought fresh attention to drainage and rainwater management in and around the airport's parking and terminal-linked areas. While political opposition has used the visuals to question the project's preparedness, NIAL has consistently maintained that the accumulation was temporary, limited to the parking area, and cleared promptly. The detailed report expected from YIAPL should give NIAL clearer insight into what actually caused the water accumulation, along with the measures in place to prevent similar issues in that part of the airport going forward.
FAQs
Q1. Where exactly did the water accumulation occur at Noida airport?
The water accumulation was reported in the parking area and the area connecting the airport terminal and parking facilities, following rainfall.
Q2. Did the waterlogging affect the airport's runway or operations?
No, according to NIAL CEO Rakesh Kumar Singh, the runway and apron remained unaffected, with only temporary water accumulation in the parking area.
Q3. Why did the incident attract political criticism?
The Samajwadi Party and Congress used circulating videos and images of the waterlogging to question the airport project's arrangements and criticise the government's development claims.