CHENNAI: For the third time in the last four months, granite tiles stuck around the lift lobby outside the airport's domestic terminal came crashing down.
It could not have come at a more inopportune time as the airport is currently undergoing an overhaul after intervention from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Five tiles measuring 2ftx1ft came loose and crashed to the ground at 12.45 pm on Monday, thankfully injuring none of the people In the vicinity.
The lift lobby is used by passengers who move between the arrival (ground) and departure (first floor) levels of the domestic terminal.
The tiles in question fell twice before and on each occasion were bolstered back in place with cement and mortar, "They did not use good quality materials and there was not enough setting time then. This was bound to happen," said a disgusted AAI official, explaining the recurrence.
An Airports Authority of India spokesperson said that the tiles were being cleared and added that repair work would begin by evening. Coming the week before their clean-up deadline set by the Ministry is up, this can only mean that officials will have to fasten their plans from coming 'unstuck'.