Noida airport reviews drainage after forecourt flooding

Heavy rain flooded an underground passage between Noida International Airport’s terminal and taxi stand on Tuesday, prompting a review of drainage around the forecourt.

Runoff from a lawn surface moved down a sloping section into the passage. Airport teams used motor pumps to clear the water, and the airport said they cleared the underpass in under 30 minutes. Soil carried by runoff from an adjacent area also hampered drainage.

Two travelators and a lift in the passage malfunctioned after seepage. The airport expected repairs to take one to two days. The walkway was not officially closed, and restoration work was under way on Wednesday.

The airport plans to revise landscaping beside the underpass and raise kerbs to keep rainwater away from the route. It is also considering widening the drainage shaft, which is roughly one foot wide and 30 feet long, after it could not discharge the runoff during the intense spell.

Premium taxis and app-based cabs have been shifted to the terminal kerbside, allowing arriving passengers to avoid the underground walkway.