India to fast-track building height clearances near airports with new reforms
The civil aviation ministry announced measures to speed up height clearances for structures near airports, including early-stage height limits and local-level approvals.
Obtaining a no-objection certificate for projects near airports has been a major bottleneck because the Airports Authority of India often raises height issues after developers have finalized designs, forcing costly redesigns. Union civil aviation minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu unveiled a reform package that will inform applicants of allowable building heights at the earliest planning phase, initially targeting Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad.
The plan also seeks to decentralise approvals by authorising urban local bodies or municipal corporations to issue height NOCs based on pre-defined aviation zoning data, integrating them into routine building plan sanctions. The new system will minimise on-site inspections and streamline documentation by employing automated digital mapping and public data. A strict 15-day deadline has been set for officials to finalise and roll out the procedures.
Why it matters
Faster airport height clearances will cut construction delays and costs for developers across major Indian cities.
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