Dabok (Udaipur) Airport’s runway which is of 7500 feet long, was extended by 1500 feet from Airport Authority of India (AAI) to ensure safety & to allow bigger planes to operate But AAI never had any idea that a part of newly built runway would be caved in even before it becomes operational. After Probing it was found that the caved in area was built over an old well. That area was filled up with stones & sand to make it smooth & sleek for runway, which somehow did not work. According to TOI,”This has clearly been an oversight. Land acquired for the purpose of extending the runway should have been scanned thoroughly to have a structurally safe airstrip. Any cavity like a well has to be tackled correctly, so that the airstrip can handle aircraft weighing hundreds of tones. The well will now be filled up anew and then the runway re-laid,” a senior AAI official uttered. Udaipur, being an international destination for tourists, its safety, beauty & transport has to be specially taken care of. Which DCGA (director general of civil aviation) would be taking the charge to examine it after it gets reconstructed. To avoid the oversight next time, DGCA would be certifying its safety after observation and then only it would become operational. It would take around 40 crores rs to get the extended run way in good shape again. The current 7500 feet airstrip is capable of Boeing 737, Airbus A-320 or turboprops. After the extended part gets re-laid, Planes like A-321 would also be landing on the runway then. (Source- Times Of India)