Height curbs locking up space in core Bengaluru, Shivakumar tells Rajnath Singh

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday met with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, urging a review of the height restrictions imposed by Bengaluru's defence airports on construction activities within a 20-km radius.

Bengaluru houses two defence airports, HAL and Yelahanka, and any construction around them need a NoC from the defence authorities.



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In the meeting held in Delhi, Shivakumar highlighted the challenges posed by the stringent restrictions, which extend beyond the general statutory rule (GSR) limit of 150 metres within a 15 km radius. The Dy CM pointed out that these airports are implementing restrictions up to a 20-km radius, hurting about 78% more area with additional height curbs while presenting him with a few letters the government wrote to the authorities in the past.

"Bengaluru, as a rapidly expanding global tech hub, faces developmental constraints due to these restrictions," Shivakumar said, adding that they are hindering the core city's development and affecting transit-oriented planning and comprehensive mobility initiatives.

Shivakumar conveyed that limiting vertical expansion would lead to unplanned suburban growth, undermining the state government's efforts for systematic urban development. He suggested the use of advanced technology in communication, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) to ease these curbs given the high demand for land in the city.


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Last month, Shivakumar also met Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, advocating for height restrictions on par with cities like Hyderabad and Mumbai, known for more lenient building regulations.