Will the airport worth trillions of rupees sink into the sea? The thing that Japan was proud of has now become the biggest tension.

Japan Kansai Airport is sinking: Japan Kansai International Airport is counted among the most unique airports in the world. This airport is built on an artificial island in the middle of the sea. It was started in 1994, but now this huge airport is slowly sinking into the sea. Scientists say that this can become a big crisis in future. Built at a cost of about $20 billion, this airport serves about 26 million passengers every year, but the land on which it was built has now become its biggest problem.

Japan used this airport as an alternative to Osaka Itami Airport to reduce congestion. airport Was made. It was prepared by creating an artificial island in Osaka Bay. Its construction started in 1987. The surprising thing was that the island started sinking during the construction itself. By 1990 the airport sank 27 feet. Engineers had estimated subsidence of only 19 feet. After this, 150 million dollars were spent on strengthening the sea wall. Hydraulic jacks and iron plates were used to stabilize the ground, as the entire airport was built on soft soil and silt.

Is the airport still sinking?

When the airport opened in 1994, it was sinking about 19 inches every year. By 2008 this rate had dropped to 2.8 inches per year, but it is still higher than expected. Engineers say that if the speed of subsidence increases then there may be a danger to the airport in future.

How long will the airport remain safe?

According to engineers, some parts of the airport may go below sea level by 2056. The reason for this is the heavy weight of the artificial island, the compression of the soft soil below, storms and sea waves. In 2018, during Typhoon Jebi, the airport was badly submerged in water and the connecting bridge was also damaged.

Still kd/ expansion continues

The interesting thing is that despite the danger of sinking, Japan is expanding this airport. Its current capacity is 26 million (2 crore 60 lakh) passengers, which is targeted to be increased to 40 million i.e. 4 crore per year. Engineers believe that with time the ground pressure may stabilize and the speed of subsidence may reduce.

Kansai Airport Timeline

• 1987 – Construction begins
• 1989- Sea wall ready
• 1994 – Airport started
• 1995- Remained safe even in the Great Hanshin Earthquake
• 2001 – Declared Engineering Monument
• 2007 – Second runway launched
• 2012 – Terminal 2 opens
• 2018 – Heavy damage due to typhoon