TV
More than a year and a half after its high-profile inauguration, the Malkangiri airport is yet to see a single flight. Instead, the project has made headlines for the wrong reasons, with its massive boundary wall collapsing for the third time, exposing questions of poor construction, flawed planning, and political haste.
As reported earlier, on Saturday night, torrential rain led to another collapse of the airport’s perimeter wall.
The wall, stretching 6,630 metres to safeguard the 256-acre facility, has now caved in thrice since the inauguration. Locals reported visible cracks across several sections, warning that more portions could give way.
Hurried Inauguration Before Polls?
Speaking to OTV, locals stated that the airport was inaugurated in a rush by the previous BJD government ahead of last year’s elections, despite the facility lacking readiness for flight operations.
They also claimed that the boundary wall began to crumble within days of the opening, fuelling allegations that the project was pursued more for political mileage than long-term functionality.
"The previous government had inaugurated the Malkangiri airport, stating it was for the benefit and development of the people. However, within two years, the wall has collapsed more than twice in minor rainfall. Now, there is a doubt if flights will ever fly from this airport," said Parshubhakta, a local resident.
Flawed Design And Repeated Failures
Sources reported that the boundary wall was built without reinforced cement concrete (RCC) columns, and the wall was restructured after its first collapse. Nearly 900 metres were redesigned with RCC support to strengthen the base.
Yet, even with these changes, the structure continues to give way during monsoon downpours, pointing to inherent design flaws.
Drainage Lapse Adds To Woes
Experts and locals said one of the root problems lies in the absence of a rainwater drainage system across the sprawling site. Without proper channels for water discharge, heavy showers saturate the soil near the wall and weaken its foundation, leading to recurrent cave-ins.
Shockingly, the airport boundary has been a safety concern since its construction phase. As per reports, a previous wall collapse had claimed the lives of two labourers and left three critically injured. Despite the tragedy, questions about accountability, quality control, and contractor oversight remain unanswered.
Officials Silent, Probe Promised
When confronted, the district’s PWD Executive Engineer refused to comment on the latest incident. However, Additional District Magistrate Bedabar Pradhan acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, announcing that a high-level inquiry would be launched.
“Frequent collapse of the boundary wall is indeed a matter of concern. Technical teams should inspect the site. I will talk to the district collector, and we will investigate the root cause behind this. Airport walls should not collapse after every spell of rain. We will get to the bottom of this,” he assured.
Anger Among Locals
Residents voiced frustration at what they allege to be the result of corruption and the use of inferior material.
“This is the third time that we are seeing the wall fall like mud. How can such a major project have no strength?” asked a local.
Another resident, Baliya, directly blamed the PWD for alleged poor-quality work, adding that public money was being wasted with every collapse.
"The wall collapse of the Malkangiri airport is nothing new. This is the third consecutive year that this has happened. The contractor and the works department are engaged in corruption. An intense and honest probe by the government must bring the truth to the fore," he said.
Distant Dreams Of Air Connectivity
For the people of Malkangiri, one of Odisha’s remotest districts, the airport was meant to be a lifeline to the outside world.
The collapse of the boundary wall, coupled with the fact that no flights have yet taken off, has only pushed their dream of air connectivity further away. As investigations are promised and repairs continue, residents are left waiting to see when, if ever, their airport will truly take flight.
