The National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), a prominent body under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, has advocated for significant policy changes to address aviation-related constraints that are hampering real estate development in major Indian cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. The council’s recommendations, presented in a recent meeting with a Joint Working Group led by Fali Major, aim to resolve regulatory challenges linked to height restrictions imposed by aviation regulations.
The restrictions have notably curtailed the scope of urban development, imposing limitations on building heights and thus stifling the potential for vertical growth in these bustling metropolitan areas. According to NAREDCO, these limitations are not only inhibiting real estate development but also constraining urban expansion and infrastructural progress.
Among the pivotal recommendations put forth by NAREDCO is the relocation of certain aviation facilities, such as HF Transmitter and Receiver stations, away from central city locations. This move is proposed to alleviate the current constraints on building heights while ensuring that the quality of HF signals remains intact. Additionally, NAREDCO has suggested extending shielding benefits—currently reserved for natural terrains—to encompass buildings and other urban structures, thus enabling taller constructions in designated areas. The council also urged the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to employ more precise contour data when assessing areas eligible for shielding benefits, noting that existing data contains significant margins of error. Furthermore, NAREDCO proposed conducting aeronautical studies to address legal issues pragmatically, avoiding the need for demolitions of existing structures, and suggested greater flexibility in regulations concerning approach surfaces and runway thresholds.
Moreover, NAREDCO highlighted two previously accepted but unimplemented recommendations: permitting a 0.5-meter vertical height tolerance during construction and revising approach and landing procedures to accommodate this adjustment. The council also called for a revision of height restriction calculations near airports, an extension of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) affected by the pandemic, and clearer guidelines regarding aerodrome obstacle surfaces. This comprehensive approach underscores NAREDCO’s commitment to unlocking the full potential of India’s urban landscape while maintaining safety standards and facilitating smoother real estate development.
