India’s civil aviation ministry explores easier building approvals near airports

India's Civil Aviation Ministry is examining ways to simplify and expedite no-objection certificates for construction near airports, including the possibility of urban local bodies issuing NOCs. The minister has set a 15-day timeline for officials to work out modalities for a more automated, transpa

NEW DELHI: India's Civil Aviation Ministry is exploring options to simplify and speed up approval processes for buildings near airports, including the feasibility of urban local bodies issuing no-objection certificates (NOCs) directly.

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu chaired a meeting on Wednesday with senior ministry and Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials, where measures to promote ease of doing business — particularly streamlining NOC issuance — were discussed, according to an official release.

The meeting examined providing permissible building heights to applicants at the initial stage itself, especially in major metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad. This would enable applicants and stakeholders to plan developments in line with height restrictions from the outset.

The minister emphasised making the NOC process “hassle-free, transparent, automated and time-bound, with minimal manual intervention”. The proposed reforms aim to facilitate the public, societies, builders and industry while ensuring aviation safety regulations continue to be addressed, the release said.

NOC requirements currently cover areas within 20 km for Visual Flight Rules operations and 56 km for Instrument Flight Rules operations. The meeting considered issuing NOCs at the urban local body level where feasible, reducing the need for individuals and companies to approach the AAI directly.

Discussions also covered simplifying approvals for aeronautical studies, including minimising the need for physical site verification at the initial stage and rationalising the documentation required for building development plans.

Naidu directed officials to work out the modalities for simplifying, automating and decentralising the NOC process within a 15-day timeline. In February, the minister said a study with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was underway to address height restriction issues around airports.