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Major Indian cities are facing growing aviation safety risks due to a surge in illegal high-rises that breach height regulations near airports. In Kolkata, over 50 such buildings have been flagged for endangering aircraft during take-offs and landings. Similar concerns plague Nagpur, where 60 non-compliant structures await action despite 500 notices issued as far back as 2017. The situation is even more alarming in Lucknow, where an AAI survey identified over 600 buildings violating height norms within a 10-km radius. These widespread breaches expose gaps in real-time NOC verification, poor coordination between civic bodies and airport authorities, and weak regulatory enforcement.
Airport authorities and urban planning bodies across several major Indian cities are confronting a severe challenge: the proliferation of illegally constructed high-rises within sensitive zones. These structures pose significant aviation hazards and directly violate crucial height regulations, prompting renewed enforcement efforts. Advertisement
In Kolkata, airport officials have recently flagged more than 50 high-rise structures for allegedly exceeding permissible height limits. These buildings reportedly pose a serious risk to flight operations, particularly during the critical phases of take-off and landing. Local municipal bodies are expected to coordinate with airport authorities to address these violations. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) sets specific height regulations to ensure safe aerial navigation around all airports nationwide.
Further inland, in Nagpur, dozens of buildings are reportedly at risk of demolition due to height norm violations. Around 60 structures have been identified by the Airport Authority of India for non-compliance, but enforcement has been hampered by bureaucratic delays, despite over 500 notices being issued in 2017. The Municipal Corporation (NMC) is tasked with further action under the guidance of the state government, which acts as the nodal agency.
Meanwhile, near Lucknow airport, an Airport Authority of India survey revealed an even larger scale of non-compliance. More than 600 high-rise buildings, some reaching six or seven, and even up to ten stories, were found to violate critical height norms within a 10-kilometer radius. These numerous structures reportedly pose a substantial risk to flight safety. The district administration is currently preparing to issue formal notices to the owners of these properties.
These incidents highlight several common challenges: weak enforcement of aviation guidelines, a noted lack of real-time height clearance verification during construction, instances of builders exploiting regulatory loopholes or delays in obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs), and persistent coordination gaps between local urban planning bodies and airport authorities. The potential consequences of these violations are severe and therefore require urgent attention.
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