Following the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad in which 241 people lost their lives, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a draft notification proposing stricter enforcement powers to remove physical obstructions near the airports. The move has been taken to boost air safety and prevent similar incidents in the future.
The draft titled Aircraft (Demolition of Obstructions) Rules, 2025, was released on June 18 and will be implemented once it is published in the Official Gazette. The norms are grounded in Section 18 of the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam 2024. Under the new rules, the height of the trees, buildings and other structures in the aerodrome zones that pose danger to flight operations will be regulated.
Aerodrome officers are authorised to conduct on-ground probe
The aerodrome officers will be given the authority to conduct an on-site probe during daylight hours on the property after informing the owner. If the officer doubts that a structure or a tree surpasses the permissible heights, a formal notice will be issued to the owner. A detailed plan of the site, as well as the structural data, will be requested to be submitted within 60 days.
If the owner fails to abide by or refuses to cooperate, officials may depend on the existing records and can escalate the matter to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The officer-in-charge will next forward the report to the District Collector. At the final stage, the DC will be allowed to take the call for demolition or cuttings by using legal procedures that will be permitted on unauthorised constructions.
Appeal and compensation procedure
Property owners will be given the chance to appeal the demolition or trimming orders by reporting it to the First or Second Appellate Officer. Appeal will need to be registered in the prescribed format, accompanied by other supporting documents and a fee of Rs 1,000.
Compensation under Section 22 of the Bhartiya Vayuyan Adhiniyan will only be applicable to those who have followed the official orders. Any non-compliant structure which is constructed after the notification will not be eligible for reimbursement.
Objections and suggestions related to the draft’s publication have been invited by the Ministry from the public within 20 days of the publication. The submissions will be addressed to the DGCA.