Government plans faster approvals for buildings near airports

The Civil Aviation Ministry is exploring ways to simplify and speed up approvals for construction near airports, including the possibility of allowing urban local bodies to issue no-objection certificates, according to PTI.

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Wednesday held a meeting with senior ministry and Airports Authority of India officials to discuss measures aimed at improving ease of doing business, including streamlining the process for issuing no-objection certificates for buildings near airports.

The meeting discussed the feasibility of providing applicants with the permissible or identified building height at the initial stage itself, particularly in major metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad. This would allow applicants and other stakeholders to factor in height restrictions while planning building projects, the ministry said in a release cited by PTI.


Naidu stressed the need to make the approval process hassle-free, transparent, automated and time-bound, with minimal manual intervention.

The proposed reforms are intended to make the process easier for individuals, housing societies, builders and industry while ensuring that aviation safety requirements continue to be met, the ministry said.

NOC process may be decentralised

The ministry also reviewed the geographical coverage of the No Objection Certificate Application System. The system currently covers areas within 20 kilometres for visual flight operations and 56 kilometres for instrument flight operations.

Officials discussed the feasibility of allowing urban local bodies to issue no-objection certificates wherever possible. The move could reduce the need for individuals and businesses to approach the Airports Authority of India directly for approvals, according to the release.

The meeting also examined ways to simplify approvals involving aeronautical studies. These included reducing the requirement for physical site verification at the initial stage and rationalising the documents required, including building development plans.

Naidu has directed officials to examine the proposed changes and work out modalities for simplifying, automating and decentralising the no-objection certificate process. The ministry has been asked to take necessary action for implementing the measures within 15 days, according to PTI.

Height restrictions around airports

The move comes as real estate development gathers pace around major airports, where height restrictions are imposed to ensure the safety of flight operations.

In February, Naidu had said a study was being conducted with assistance from the International Civil Aviation Organization to explore solutions to issues related to building height restrictions around airports.

The government is now looking at ways to make the approval process more predictable and efficient while retaining the aviation safety safeguards governing construction near airports.