Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has emerged as the world’s most densely encroached, in a global study assessing the proximity of urban development around 50 international airports,. Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport also features prominently on the list, ranking 12th. Other Indian airports such as Delhi, Bengaluru, and Surat have also been flagged.
The findings have triggered renewed concerns about aviation safety, particularly after the tragic Air India crash on June 12. The wreckage of the aircraft was strewn just 250 metres from homes in Meghaninagar, starkly highlighting the risks posed by residential developments pressing up against critical aviation zones. Mumbai’s airport, hemmed in by towering high-rises and dense slums—including Asia’s largest informal settlement, Dharavi—lacks the clear safety buffer typically recommended by aviation planners. Ideally, a 20-kilometre low-development zone should surround major airports to allow for safe take-off, landing, and emergency operations. But in India’s older aviation hubs, zoning enforcement has been largely ignored.
Ahmedabad’s airport, once located on the urban fringe, is now fully engulfed by residential and commercial development. Experts argue this rapid, often unplanned, urban growth has outpaced the safety infrastructure needed for modern aviation. While India is investing in new greenfield airports like Dholera near Ahmedabad, critics point out that mere expansion without integrated urban planning could repeat existing mistakes. Upgrades to old facilities continue in parallel, even as the risk profile around them intensifies.
With India eyeing a target of 350 airports by 2047, aviation experts are calling for metro-level planning and stricter zoning laws that prioritise safety over speed. According to them, the danger isn’t theoretical—most aviation accidents happen during take-off or landing, and overcrowded surroundings not only increase the impact but also delay rescue and relief efforts.
As urban sprawl continues to tighten its grip on aviation infrastructure, the study serves as a wake-up call for policymakers and urban planners alike: without serious zoning reform, India’s growing skies may come with growing risks.
