70 Mumbai buildings to be partially demolished to clear flight path

People living close to the Mumbai airport may soon lose their homes. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has asked 70 buildings in Vile Parle, Santacruz, Ghatkopar, and Kurla to be partially demolished to clear flight paths. These buildings have been ordered to be reduced in height within 60 days, or the authorities would demolish them.

Of the 70 buildings, most are over 50 years old, and have produced height clearance certificates issued to them at the time. The older buildings have been ordered to be reduced by anything between one and six metres, while the newer and taller buildings have been asked to be reduced by a lot more. The buildings, along with some other structures, are believed to be obstacles in the flight path of these planes.

The people living in these buildings are protesting, out of the fear that they could lose their homes. Their concern remains that these older structures would not survive the reduction in height. Reports also say that the permissions these buildings received at the time are now invalid, because they were issued fraudulently by certain employees of the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

This was initiated after Bombay High Court asked the DGCA to look into this matter while hearing a PIL on the issue. As a signatory to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which governs these regulations, India is required to compulsorily adhere to them.