PM told me that I was late to reach Delhi Airport roof collapse spot: Murlidhar Mohol

Indian Express

12-07-2025

Pune MP and Union Minister for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi told him that he was late to reach the site of the Delhi Airport roof collapse by 2.5 hours.
Speaking at the launch of his karyawahal (work review) at the Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir in Pune, Mohol said, 'It was just 6-7 days after the swearing-in ceremony. Ministers of State were called to the PM House in the evening for an informal meeting, and the Delhi Airport roof had collapsed the same day. Modiji was asking everyone about their ministries and if they had conducted reviews. When my turn came, I said I have Civil Aviation and Cooperation. He paused for a moment and asked me 'Aaj din bhar kya kiya' (what did you do all day today?). He was trying to check whether this idiot (Mohol) even knows what has happened.'
'The story gets more amusing. I told him that the Delhi Airport accident happened in the morning, I went to the hospital, etc. He heard me out and nodded his head, and then said, 'Aapko pata hai aap dhai ghante late pohoche vahan pe?' (Are you aware that you reached the spot 2.5 hours late?). After hearing that I felt that where have I come?,' said Mohol.
A book by Mohol recounting his experiences and learning from the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown was launched at the event. Mohol was the Mayor of the city during the pandemic. Mohol's 24-hour public outreach office off Jungli Maharaj Road was also inaugurated after the event.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Minister for Higher and Technical Education Chandrakant Patil, Maharashtra Minister of State for Urban Development Madhuri Misal, MLA Siddharth Shirole, and various other politicians from the BJP, Shiv Sena, and Nationalist Congress Party were present at the occasion.
Meanwhile, CM Devendra Fadnavis said, 'In 1-1:15 hours, Puneites will be able to reach the new Navi Mumbai Airport, this will be the benefit of the missing link (on Pune-Mumbai Expressway) to Pune citizens. We will be able to create an economic corridor comprising the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Pune in this way.'