Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Saturday announced that the government will conduct an international study with the assistance of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to examine solutions for building height restrictions around airports. He highlighted that aviation safety remains the highest priority and will not be compromised, even as real estate development around airports continues to grow.
“While we keep our operations intact with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines, the way we want to improve the height restrictions scenario right now is that we want to do an international study,” Naidu said at the 17th National Convention of realtors’ body Naredco, held in the national capital. The minister added that experts from ICAO will be invited to conduct the study, which will also evaluate how global cities such as Hong Kong are addressing similar challenges.
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India has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing civil aviation markets, with the number of airports rising from 74 to 162 over the past 11 years. The government now plans to add 50 more in the next five years, with the long-term potential to expand beyond 350 airports. Naidu noted that while restrictions on building heights are crucial for safe flight operations, advancements in technology could provide “a balance” between aviation safety and urban real estate development.
Speaking to PTI on the sidelines of the event, the minister said the study would be carried out strictly in accordance with ICAO’s framework. “We are in communication with the ICAO (on having the study)… it (the study) is in line with Viksit Bharat,” he remarked, expressing hope that the findings would lead to “positive recommendations.”
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The minister also spoke about broader plans to develop aerotropolises, or airport-centred cities, with both aero and non-aero services to drive economic growth. “India has the potential to have over 350 airports,” Naidu said, stressing that the government aims to harness the synergies between infrastructure, aviation and real estate in shaping the next phase of development.
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
