Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, also Bengaluru Development Minister, recently met with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi. They discussed the height restrictions imposed around defence airports in Bengaluru. Shivakumar expressed concerns about these restrictions affecting the city’s development and urged a balanced approach for aviation safety and Bengaluru’s growth.
During the meeting, Shivakumar submitted a letter to Rajnath Singh, highlighting the impact of the restrictions and referencing previous communications from the Karnataka government on the issue. The Deputy Chief Minister emphasized the need to address the excessive restrictions around defence airports in Bengaluru, particularly near the HAL airport in the city’s core area.
Shivakumar’s letter called attention to the challenges faced due to restrictions within a 20km range of the airports and urged action to support both flight safety and the city’s development needs. Currently, Bengaluru has four operational airports, including the IAF’s Yelahanka airbase, where construction permissions require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the respective airport authorities.
The Greater Bengaluru Authority has raised concerns about stricter restrictions imposed by defence authorities when granting NOCs for construction projects. Meetings have been held to streamline the NOC clearance process, with discussions involving representatives from Bengaluru’s airports. Authorities from defence airports explained that additional height restrictions are imposed based on rule 5(2) of the G.S.R 751(E) to ensure aviation safety.
