Bhubaneswar: Days after Biju Patnaik International Airport served a notice on the director of a real estate firm for taking the top elevation of a high-rise constructed by it beyond the permissible limit, posing as an obstacle on flight path, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sought an explanation from the realtor in three days.“It has come to our notice that you are constructing a hotel project comprising a 2B+11 multistoried building by violating the approved height as permitted by Airports Authority of India (AAI). Further, the validity period of clearance/no-objection certificate (NOC) given by the AAI is likely to expire in Feb 2027. You may also verify the detailed report of the certified surveyor registered by the AAI with respect to the clearance given,” read the show-cause letter served on the realtor on Thursday.The BMC said that the firm should show cause as to why permission accorded to it shouldn’t be cancelled.“We recently inspected the building and measured the height. Since the airport has raised objections, we wrote to the realtor, seeking an explanation. Let’s see what logic it presents to prove that the height hasn’t gone beyond the permissible limit,” said BMC city planner Md Q Ali, adding they will take a call on further course of action after getting the explanation from the realtor.According to the airport authorities, the developer had been granted an NOC in 2019 for a top elevation of the building up to 87.37m, but it was raised to 98.9m. The violation had been detected on July 17 following an obstacle limitation survey (OLS).Following this, the Bhubaneswar airport authorities sent copies of its notice (seen by TOI), served on the developer on July 31, to the BMC and five other agencies, including director general of civil aviation.The notice said that in accordance with Rule 3 of the Aircraft (Demolition of Obstructions caused by Buildings and Trees etc.) Rules, 2026, the building is identified as an obstruction as per an OLS. “The permissible top elevation at the site is 87.37m as per the NOC issued on Feb 25, 2019. There is infringement of 11.53m,” the notice read.
