The Civil Aviation Ministry is examining the State government’s March 4 order regularising high-rises on the flight path of the Thiruvananthapuram international airport. The structures are yet to get the mandatory No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
In a letter to Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said the Ministry was looking into “concerns over the government’s order regarding unlawful constructions near the airport, which may jeopardise the safety and security of the aircraft and its occupants, besides the development of the airport”.
The intervention came after Mr. Achuthanandan wrote to the Civil Aviation Minister after The Hindu reported on March 18 the move to regularise high-rises on the flight path.
According to the January 14, 2010 notification, construction of buildings within 20 km radius of the airport is subject to the Aircraft Act of 1934, and NOC from the AAI is mandatory.
The Cabinet had decided to grant occupancy certificates, claiming that curbs under the Act would come into effect only after January 14, 2010. Mr. Achuthanandan had demanded that buildings that posed safety hazards in Attipara village and near Akkulam bridge be demolished.
Meanwhile, the minutes of the April 1 high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary P.K. Mohanty, explaining the decision to put on hold the March 4 order, has reached the AAI. The minutes have been forwarded to the AAI headquarters in Delhi for perusal, a top AAI official told The Hindu .
The AAI has taken a tough posture on the three high-rises in Attipara village and near Akkulam bridge that had been denied NOC. NoTAM is also in force on approaching Runway 14.
The three high-rises on the flight path protrude into the Obstacle Limitation Surface (OSL) by 8.92 m, 10.29 m and 41.24 m respectively, endangering the safety of aircraft operations.
Ministry studying concerns over GO on unlawful constructions near capital airport
