HAL Imposes New Building Restrictions In Nashik Over Security Concerns

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has imposed new restrictions on construction activities in nearly half of Nashik due to the security concerns of the Gandhinagar Airport and Artillery Centre. Earlier, there was a limit on the construction of tall buildings within a radius of 5km in the Nashik Road and Deolali areas. Now, a no-objection certificate (NOC) from HAL must be obtained prior to any construction within a radius of 20km of the HAL-owned airport in Ozar. This has created a stir in the construction sector in Nashik city.

The HAL management has written to District Collector Jalaj Sharma requesting him to limit construction within a radius of 20km of the airport. Accordingly, it has been made mandatory for the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) and the Nashik Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA) to take HAL’s opinion while issuing construction permits. However, there is still confusion among construction professionals as there is no clarity on what the exact height limit of the buildings should be.

Civilian airlines, chartered aircraft, VVIP flights, training flights, as well as test flights of the Indian Air Force and HAL operate from the airport in Ozar. HAL says that tall buildings within a 20-km radius of this airport can obstruct air traffic. Therefore, builders must obtain an NOC from HAL for every construction in this area. The District Collector’s Office has directed the NMC and NMRDA to follow these instructions.

These new rules will affect about 50% areas of Nashik, Panchavati, Mhasrul, Makhamalabad, Adgaon, Upnagar, Dwarka, CBS, Bhangar, as well as undeveloped areas like Sinnar, Pimpalgaon Baswant and Dindori fall within a 20-km radius of HAL. This is likely to cause major hindrance to development work in these areas. Since the height limit of construction is not clear, there may be difficulties in getting permission not only for tall buildings but also for ordinary houses and bungalows.

There is a fear that many development schemes of the NMRDA, which will have an impact on the region’s overall development plans, will also be affected by these restrictions. These schemes, which will accelerate the expansion of the city, will now have to fulfil the conditions of HAL’s permission. This has created an atmosphere of concern among construction professionals and citizens. There is a demand that the administration should issue clear guidelines in this regard as soon as possible.