TV
In view of the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on 12 June, authorities at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar initiated a safety audit of the airport on a war-footing. However, a month later, glaring obstructions to flight paths still exist.
An unauthorised two-storey market complex in Jagamara, directly under the approach path of flights at BPIA, remains standing despite repeated safety alerts from airport officials, according to The Times of India report.
The structure, constructed without the mandatory no-objection certificate (NOC) from the airport, has been flagged as a serious obstruction to aircraft landings and takeoffs.
In addition to the building, tall trees in the vicinity have also been identified as hazardous during low-altitude flight operations. So far, only a few coconut trees have been cut, while the building, deemed illegal, continues to pose a risk.
The market complex allegedly did not receive clearance from either the airport authority or the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), a mandatory requirement for any construction in this sensitive zone, sources said.
Although the airport authorities have repeatedly raised the issue with civic and development agencies, they currently lack the legal authority to issue demolition orders, stated the TOI report.
Under existing regulations, responsibility for such enforcement lies with the BMC, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), and the General Administration Department.
Earlier Concerns and Heightened Scrutiny
In June, concerns over obstructions near the airport were highlighted at the city level. Trees inside the OUAT campus and other nearby structures were cited as growing too tall, interfering with aircraft movement.
The matter was discussed in committee meetings involving urban planning and aviation officials, and city authorities pledged to act once survey findings were finalised.
According to airport sources, trees and structures along the flight path not only obstruct pilot visibility but also attract birds that can collide with planes during landing or takeoff. Even a small impact on an aircraft’s windshield, nose, or engine can cause serious emergencies, which is a major issue for a busy airport like BPIA.
