A strict no‑fly zone has been imposed within a five‑kilometre radius around Kannur Airport for three days ahead of the Union Home Minister’s scheduled arrival, as a precautionary aviation and security measure, officials confirmed. The restriction comes into effect a day before his visit to the district. The district administration, under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), issued the directive barring the use of drones, paragliders, hot air balloons or any unmanned aerial vehicles. The decision authorises law enforcement to intervene immediately if any aerial activity poses a risk to aircraft operations.
Kannur’s home secretary explained that the measure is driven by operational safety requirements. Any activity that might impede take‑off or landing must be promptly reported to the nearest police station. According to the itinerary, the Union Home Minister is expected to depart from Thiruvananthapuram around 4 pm via air and then fly into Kannur the following day, where he will visit the Rajarajeshwara Temple in Taliparamba before returning to Delhi.
Experts say that such pre‑emptive bans reflect evolving safety protocols under BNSS, aiming to safeguard critical air corridors during high‑security events. While previous regulations targeted restricted zones under generic security laws, the BNSS framework provides sharper, codified authority for district collectors to enforce no‑fly zones. Local aviation analysts note that temporary UAV restrictions are commonly coordinated with airport authorities and police to mitigate risk. However, the speed and scale of this deployment — covering a broad five‑km radius — is notable and underscores heightened vigilance for the scheduled VIP arrival.
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