Safety concerns loom over Bhubaneswar Airport amid illegal constructions and tree obstructions

Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) is currently under scrutiny due to rising safety concerns surrounding the presence of several obstructions that may affect the smooth operation of flights. 

These include the growth of large trees dangerously close to the aircraft take-off path and numerous illegal high-rise buildings erected within restricted zones near the airport's runway area. These obstacles pose significant threats to flight safety during both landing and take-off, informed Bhubaneswar Airport Director, Prasanna Pradhan on Saturday.

“We had done some survey and found that some trees have grown. The issue was raised in the Airfield Environment Management Committee (AEMC) including other unauthorised constructions. We hope that they will take action in this regard,” said Pradhan.

The issue was recently discussed in detail during a meeting of the Airfield Environment Management Committee (AEMC), held last month. The meeting, chaired by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner, formally acknowledged the presence of these violations. The airport authorities informed that a detailed joint survey was conducted to assess the situation, identifying several trees and unauthorized structures that do not comply with aviation safety norms.

Such comprehensive surveys are carried out once every three years by airport authorities in collaboration with key agencies, including the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), the BMC, and the General Administration (GA) Department. 

‘Detect, Eliminate All Obstacles That Compromise Airport Operations’

The purpose is to detect and eliminate natural or man-made obstacles that may endanger air navigation or compromise airport operations. 

“In both take off and approach path, the height of obstruction is usually pointed out during survey including our own run-way safety team. We then bring such issues to the notice of concerned agencies like BDA, BMC, Forest and GA departments for proper action,” Pradhan added.

In this round of surveys, officials confirmed that multiple high-rise buildings within the mandatory safe flight path zones have been constructed without necessary clearances, making them non-compliant with DGCA regulations.

Meanwhile, as part of a nation-wide initiative to test and enhance airport emergency preparedness, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed all airports to conduct full-scale mock drills.

Mock Drill at Bhubaneswar Airport on June 30

Accordingly, the Bhubaneswar Airport will conduct its mock drill on June 30, simulating a real-time aircraft accident scenario. This comes in the wake of the recent Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, which raised serious questions about emergency response time and coordination during aviation disasters.

The upcoming mock drill will involve multiple stakeholders, including officials from civil aviation, police, medical teams, fire services, and disaster response units. It will cover all aspects of emergency management—starting from the immediate response to a crash, rescue operations, evacuation and treatment of injured passengers, to the flow of timely information to passengers’ families and coordination with media through a dedicated communication room.

With the presence of physical obstructions being already flagged, the drill will serve as an opportunity to test how these challenges could impact emergency operations and to what extent response protocols need to be adjusted. Officials believe the exercise will help identify gaps in coordination and infrastructure, offering insights into areas where improvements are urgently needed.

Authorities have stressed the need for immediate corrective actions, including removal of trees, verification of building heights, and legal steps against unauthorized constructions. With Bhubaneswar Airport witnessing increasing air traffic in recent years, ensuring a clear and obstruction-free airspace is becoming more critical than ever.