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NEW DELHI, JUNE 19: To follow up on the catastrophic Air India crash at Ahmedabad that killed 241 people, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has released new draft rules to eradicate buildings around airports threatening aircraft safety.
The crash of a London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on June 12 was just minutes after takeoff when the plane crashed into a hostel building adjacent to BJ Medical College, killing all but one person of the 242 people aboard. Among the dead was Vijay Rupani, the former Chief Minister of Gujarat.
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Spurred by growing worries about obstructions in flight routes, especially in airport areas, the ministry published the Aircraft (Demolition of Obstructions) Rules, 2025 on June 18. The bill, which will become law when notified in the Official Gazette, will empower officials to spot and demolish buildings, high-rise trees, or other structures that are above permissible heights within notified areas of an aerodrome.
As per the draft rules, if there is a violation, the structure owner will be issued a notice by the officer-in-charge of the respective airport. The notice will demand the provision of structural information—such as height and site plans—within 60 days. Disobedience or non-compliance may result in severe action, including demolition or forced reduction of the structure’s height.
The bill also empowers officials to enter suspected premises in daylight hours, subject to the condition of giving reasonable notice. In case of denial of access, they can make do with available information and report the matter to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Upon establishment of violation, the District Collector will implement corrective action under prevailing procedures for unauthorised construction.
The bill provides for a restricted appeal process. The owners of property can challenge orders of demolition by filing supporting documents and a fee of ₹1,000. Compensation under Section 22 of the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, will be given only to those individuals or entities that abide by the directives issued. Newly erected non-compliant buildings will not qualify for any compensation claims.
The draft has been put out for public comments for 20 days from the date of issue. Suggestions and objections are to be made directly to the DGCA. This regulatory measure is a big change in enforcing aviation safety and is a reflection of increased urgency in the wake of one of the most tragic air crashes in recent Indian air history.
