AAI issues NOC to MMRDA for elevated metro near Juhu airport

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has issued the height clearance no-objection certificate (NOC) to Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for the elevated metro rail near Juhu airport, addressing the safety of aircraft operations and residents.

In 2019, AAI issued NOC and granted permission for a permissible top elevation of 16.76 m for the Metro 2B corridor from DN Nagar to Mankhurd, passing through SV Road close to runway 08/26 of Juhu airport.

In 2021, the High Court (HC) petitioner, Harit Desai, challenged the NOC that the metro line lay within the funnel zone of runway 08/26. He alleged that the NOC was contrary to the Height Restrictions for Safeguarding Aircraft Operations Rules, 2015.

He added that if the metro line was commissioned, the aircraft arriving or departing from the Juhu airport being involved in an accident cannot be ruled out.

In January, the HC sought an independent, comprehensive report from the Ministry of Civil Aviation Secretary Rajiv Bansal on the issue of NOC and safety concerns.

Bansal supported the AAI's NOC, adding that the Juhu airport is a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) airport, where flight operations can be carried out only when the visibility is over 5 km.

A report published all the information, including the obstacles around the airport, are addressed by the airline operator before commencing flight operations, implying that the pilots are aware of the obstructions like the metro rail project near the airport runway.

According to a report, runway 26 is the primary runway for take-off. If runway 08 is in use for take-off, all safety precautions are to be taken by the airline operators and then overfly the obstacles.

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