PMO takes cognizance of slipshod work at Patna’s new terminal

A recent query by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) regarding broken tiles, sanitary fittings and slipshod work at the new integrated terminal building of Patna’s Jayprakash Narayan International (JPNI) airport, has prompted the Airports ‘Authority of India (AAI) to issue show-cause notices to two senior officers at the Patna airport, while letting off the Hyderabad-based agency responsible for executing the work, said officials ‘on Monday.

- Ruchir Kumar

The PMO’s query on July 1 was in response to a social media post on microblogging site X, which read, “Welcome to Patna airport! Broken tiles everywhere, broken toilets and a poor experience - all thanks to the rushed reopening of the new terminal for Modi’s photo-op. With no development to show, nothing to inaugurate, airport was rushed, metro is being rushed and now Rajgir stadium will be rushed. More embarrassments ahead than pride...”

Interestingly, the two officers in the firing line, after the PMO query, are relatively new, giving credence to the belief that they have been made scapegoats. While one was posted at Patna in April, and has no direct correlation with the project, the other was sent on promotion as gen-