Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has imposed strict new building regulations in Nashik, mandating a no-objection certificate (NOC) for all construction within a 20-km radius of the Ozar Airport.
The move, aimed at ensuring air traffic safety around the airport and the Artillery Centre, has significantly disrupted the city’s construction sector. Previously, construction height restrictions were enforced within a 5-km range around Nashik Road and Deolali. Now, the expanded 20-km security buffer includes nearly half of Nashik’s urban and peripheral areas, including Panchavati, Dwarka, Adgaon, Upnagar, and even semi-rural regions like Sinnar and Dindori. The HAL management has formally requested Nashik District Collector Jalaj Sharma to make its approval compulsory for all new projects. The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Nashik Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA) have been directed to consult HAL before issuing any construction permissions.
However, confusion prevails among builders and architects due to the lack of clarity on height restrictions. While the need for an NOC is clear, the specifics on permissible construction dimensions are yet to be detailed, stalling not only high-rises but also smaller residential projects. Ozar Airport currently handles military test flights, VVIP movement, chartered aircraft, and HAL training operations. HAL maintains that tall structures in the area pose a safety threat by interfering with flight paths, hence the need for stricter oversight. The new directive has raised serious concerns among real estate developers and residents alike. Ongoing and planned projects under NMRDA’s urban expansion schemes now face uncertainty. Several town planning and housing proposals could be delayed or cancelled if HAL’s criteria are not met. With over 50% of Nashik’s geographic region affected, industry bodies and citizens are urging the administration to issue immediate and detailed guidelines. Builders are also pushing for a transparent process to assess project feasibility under the new rules.
As Nashik prepares for rapid urban growth, HAL’s security-driven restrictions pose a serious challenge to the city’s development trajectory.
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