Lucknow | Waterlogging at the newly-built Noida International Airport following heavy rain has triggered a political spat, with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav taking a dig at the BJP government, while the airport authorities said the "temporary accumulation of water" was cleared within 30 minutes.
Videos circulating on social media purportedly showed water accumulated at a stretch connecting the terminal with the parking area at the airport located in Jewar, with airport personnel working to drain the water.
Yadav, a former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, shared one such video on X on Wednesday morning and posted, "Will boats now operate at the airport? Wherever there is a BJP government, there is mega-corruption!" The airport authorities, however, said the waterlogging occurred temporarily after a spell of extremely heavy rain on Tuesday and did not disrupt flight or passenger movement.
According to a statement issued by the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday night, water accumulated for some time on the road connecting the terminal and parking area following intense rainfall.
"The airport teams immediately swung into action and ensured drainage within 30 minutes, following which movement on the route became completely normal," it said.
The authorities said flight operations and passenger movement at the airport continued smoothly and teams were keeping a close watch on weather conditions.
Amid the political row, Jewar BJP MLA Dhirendra Singh on Wednesday inspected the waterlogged site near the airport and directed officials to review the drainage arrangements, address shortcomings and ensure a permanent solution.
"Those who cannot see the unprecedented development of Jewar can see only potholes and waterlogging," Singh said, accusing the opposition of trying to divert public attention from the development taking place in the state.
He said that while the opposition could see potholes and waterlogging after the rain, it was overlooking the international airport, world-class roads, industrial investment and employment opportunities being created for thousands of youths in the area.
The greenfield airport, which was inaugurated on March 28 this year, has been developed under a public-private partnership with the Uttar Pradesh government and has been projected as being built to international standards.
Singh said Jewar, which was once "away from the mainstream of development", had emerged as a major centre of Uttar Pradesh's changing industrial and economic landscape under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
"Those whose governments kept the airport confined to discussions and files for years are today doing politics over rainwater around it," he said.
Singh said waterlogging or any technical deficiency would not be ignored and that officials had been directed to review the drainage system and undertake necessary improvements.
"The opposition may keep looking for potholes in pictures, we will continue writing a new chapter of development in Jewar," he said.
The airport authority said the temporary waterlogging was caused by a sudden spell of exceptionally heavy rain and teams were prepared to ensure uninterrupted movement between the terminal and parking area.
"The priority is to ensure passenger convenience and uninterrupted movement amid weather-related conditions," the statement said
