Hyderabad: Restrictions on the height of buildings coming up near the Begumpet airport’s runway will continue. The Union civil aviation ministry is in no mood to withdraw the height restrictions even though commercial flight operations have been moved to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) at Shamshabad eight years ago. Begumpet airport is operational and the ministry has no plans to withdraw the height restrictions in its funnel zone, R.N. Choubey, secretary, civil aviation ministry told this newspaper.
Though many buildings have been constructed in violation of height restrictions near the airport, those planning to construct legally have to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Airports Authority of India.
The ministry of civil aviation will use the Begumpet airport for movement of VIP aircrafts helicopter sorties and defence aircraft and, therefore, the sanctity of the funnel zone will be maintained. As of now, both GHMC and Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) can give permissions to build up to (G+2) buildings in the funnel areas. Though there is a proposal that the ministry would amend the existing constructions norms near the Begumpet airport, it has not happened so far.
The worst hit are residents of colonies located at a higher altitude in Mahendra Hills where a builder has to obtain NOC from AAI to construct even a single floor house.
SCB ward member J. Ramakrishna said the layouts of Shantiniketan, Santoshi Colony, Dhana Lakshmi Colony and Balamrai Society need to take NOC for construction of even ground floor building. “We have been repeatedly representing it to the Centre to at least allow ground plus two floors buildings but no action has been taken on this,” he said.
“There was also a proposal to prepare colour-coded zoning maps of airports indicating heights of buildings permissible in different areas by different colours This would have reduced delays in issuance of NOC,” he added.
