Boundary Wall Collapse Raises Concerns

A section of the boundary wall at the newly-constructed Rewa Airport in Madhya Pradesh has collapsed following heavy rainfall, raising serious concerns about the construction quality and flood preparedness of this Rs 500-crore project. The collapse occurred just months after the airport’s completion, highlighting potential structural vulnerabilities in one of the state’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.

Repeated Failures Highlight Construction Issues

This is not the first incident involving the airport’s boundary wall. A similar breach was reported during last year’s monsoon season, even before the airport became operational. Locals attribute the recent collapse to the ground beneath the wall giving way due to relentless rain, which caused a portion of the outer boundary to crumble overnight.

Rewa Airport: A Vision for Regional Transformation

Rewa Airport was envisioned as a transformative project for the Vindhya region. Inaugurated virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi, the airport was completed in a record 18 months on 323 acres of land acquired from five villages. The facility features a 2,300-meter-long runway and currently operates two flights connecting Rewa to Bhopal via Khajuraho and Jabalpur. While it presently accommodates 19-seater aircraft, plans are underway to scale up to 72-seaters in the near future.

Flooding Exacerbates Infrastructure Challenges

In addition to structural concerns at the airport, Rewa city has been severely affected by flooding. Over the past 24 hours, the city received eight inches of rain, causing the Bichhiya and Bihar rivers to overflow and submerge large parts of the area. At least four localities along the riverbanks are inundated, with water levels reaching three to four feet inside homes and shops.

Call for Improved Flood Management

The flooding has not spared even prominent residences, including that of Gudh MLA Nagendra Singh. Mr. Singh emphasized the need for better flood management, stating, “Rewa city has been turned into a pond. Unless the river is deepened and the floodplain is managed, this problem will continue year after year.”