In response to a notice from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has said that there were no structural issues in the glass panels and they were falling due to impurities in the glass.
It further added that the falling glass panels had not injured any passengers, according to a report in the Times of India.
A Supreme Court lawyer had filed a complaint recently on the recurring incidents of falling glass panels at the Chennai airport following which the NHRC had issued a notice to AAI.
As per reports, more than 60 incidents of falling glass panels have been recorded since the glass terminals were commissioned.
The response stated that adequate precautionary measures have been taken for the safety of passengers and it is only media hype that has created this perception. Further, the injuries reported were due to accidental breakage of glasses.
“AAI investigated the work from IIT Madras and as per the report submitted, it was found that the supporting structure for the glass system was robust and structurally adequate. It concluded that spontaneous breakage (0.12%) of glass panel was due to nickel sulphate inclusion, which was a normal phenomenon and that was very much within the industrial norm limit of 0.80%,” the response said.
“AAI has already initiated remedial action like providing barricading with stainless steel railing to prevent passenger movement near planter box area of city side at arrival level, erecting physical barrier to prevent any injuries to bystanders or public in case of spontaneous breakage.”