Date:23/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/23/stories/2008122358860300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

You can move closer to the airport but…

Sharath S. Srivatsa

AAI has started regulating construction activities in an area of 20 km of the BIA

Devanahalli has turned into a hot real estate destination
Height for buildings has been restricted at ground + 7 floors

BANGALORE: So you are planning to buy a new place near the airport and are pleased with yourself. But there is a problem.

You fear all that roar of airport-related traffic will get on your nerves. But then you tell yourself: “I can always complain.”

Sorry, pal, you cannot. You are better off far away from the vicinity of the Bengaluru International Airport because before you close that deal, you have to give an undertaking not to claim any compensation or file a complaint against aircraft noise, vibrations or damages caused due to aircraft operations.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) that has started regulating the construction activities in an area of around 20 km of the BIA has made it mandatory for owners of all structures to give an undertaking to secure no-objection certificate (NOC).

The NOC, issued by AAI, is mandatory in the designated area to commence any construction.

Among others, the property owners also have to give an undertaking that no radio/ television aerial, mast, lightning arresters, vent pipes, overhead water tanks and attachments of any description will project on super structure, which are not indicated in the submitted drawings.

Large-scale development

The new procedures assume importance at a time when the area around Devanahalli is witnessing large-scale development, and has turned into a hot real estate destination in Bangalore. The procedures for the issue of NOC have been formulated by the AAI central headquarters to regulate construction that may be detrimental to the air traffic.

As per the procedures, the AAI is seeking the exact location of the proposed construction on the grid map/ zoning map of the aerodrome concerned along with coordinates besides the architectural drawings, the plan and elevation including site plan with dimensions of the proposed structure or alterations indicating the heights above the ground level/ mean sea level.

“Based on these, the NOC committee will determine the permissible height for the building,” sources said.

Height restriction

A senior official of the Bangalore International Airport Area Planning Authority (BIAAPA) said that the height for buildings has been restricted at Ground + 7 floors in an area of 20 km around the Bengaluru International Airport. “The BIAAPA is strictly enforcing the norm. Even if the NOC is given for more than G + 7, the Master Plan for BIAAPA does not allow it,” the official said.

No rejection

Meanwhile, though several applications have come before the NOC committee, no application has been rejected. “We have reduced the height of the buildings wherever they (builders) have asked for more. But, so far we have not rejected any applications,” A.N. Visvanatha, General Manager Air Traffic Management (ATM) of AAI, told The Hindu.

The GM (ATM) is the designated Chairman of the NOC Committee for the BIA.

In a letter written to BIAAPA, Mr Viswanatha has said: “Because of the presence of non-AAI airports like HAL Airport and Yelahanka Airport in the vicinity of the BOA, members of public will also be required to get a NOC from Defence authorities also, in addition to the AAI.”