Bhubaneswar: The Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) has issued a notice to a private real estate firm over alleged violation of prescribed height restrictions in the construction of a high-rise building in Bhubaneswar, citing potential aviation safety concerns.
According to information, BPIA authorities have also issued an official Notice to Airmen (NOTAMN) instructing pilots to adjust their flight path while approaching the aerodrome in the state capital.
The step was taken after authorities found that a high-rise structure along the airport’s funnel path exceeds permitted height regulations.
The NOTAMN provides pilots with specific technical parameters and geographical coordinates to help aircraft safely navigate around the obstacle during landing approaches.
An obstacle limitation survey conducted on July 17 identified the unauthorised elevation. BPIA officials noted that the real estate developer was originally granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) in 2019 permitting an elevation clearance of 87.37 metres. However, the structure was constructed to a height of 98.907 metres, reports said.
According to airport officials, the under-construction building has reportedly exceeded the permissible height limit by around 11 metres.
The alleged violation has resulted in an increase of approximately 26 metres in the Obstacle Clearance Altitude (OCA), a critical aviation safety parameter used to ensure safe aircraft operations during approach and departure.
The building is situated about 3.5 km from the airport, making compliance with height regulations particularly important due to its proximity to the flight path.
Copies of the notice have been forwarded to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Odisha’s Urban Development Department, Transport Department, Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), sources said.
Airport officials described the notice as part of the routine regulatory process to ensure adherence to aviation safety norms.
They maintained that within a 20-km radius of the airport, the height of any building, structure or tree is regulated and requires a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the competent aviation authority before construction or expansion.
