AAI serves demolition notices to 70 buildings for height violation

SURAT: Airports Authority of India (AAI) has served violation notices to realtors and housing society presidents of more than 70 buildings in 17 residential projects for penetrating the approach surface of the runway-22 on Vesu side of

Surat airport

.

The realtors and housing society presidents of respective buildings have been asked to demolish the structures within permissible top elevation within next two months, failing which final action will be taken by Directorate

General

of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Airport director Sanjay Kumar Panigrahi told TOI, “About 17 projects consisting of more than 70 buildings have been served with notices asking them to trim their building heights within permissible top elevation in next two months. We have also sent the details of survey report conducted in June 2018 to the DGCA. If no action is taken within two months, the final call will be taken by the DGCA in this regard.”

Panigrahi added, “The clearance of obstacles in the approach surface of runway-22 at Vesu side will pave the way for clearing the displacement of 615 metres imposed by the DGCA. This means that the aircraft landing from Vesu side will be able to use the full-length runway of 2,905 metres, instead of the current 2,290 metres.”

According to the minutes of meeting (MoM) between the AAI and

Surat Municipal Corporation

in March 2018, it was decided to carry out building-wise survey of all the 90 buildings to ensure accuracy of obstacle height.

A Nasik-based empanelled surveyor, M/s Raj

Technologies

was appointed to carry out survey of all the 90 buildings identified as obstacles, survey of other buildings and obstacles within 6.6 kilometre in the approach funnel of runway at Vesu end.

The AAI has submitted the building obstacle details to the DGCA as per rule 5 of Aircraft (demolition of obstructions caused by the buildings and tree, etc.) Rule, 1994.

Official sources said the buildings in all the 17 residential projects have violated permissible top elevation and coordinates in the range of 12.36 metres to 0.56 metres in height.