Surat: There are not one, two or 18 buildings obstructing the height parameters at Surat airport runway.In fact, when counted jointly by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC), it was found that there are 90 buildings which are obstructing the flight path.Information sought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act from the AAI has revealed that there are 90 buildings in about 18 residential projects — identified as obstacles — in the path of aircrafts landing at Surat airport from Vesu end. According to minutes of meeting (MoM) between the AAI and the civic body in March this year, it was decided to carry out building-wise survey of all the 90 buildings to ensure the accuracy of obstacle height.However, AAI has drawn up a detailed action plan with timeline to carry out building-wise survey to ensure the accuracy of 90 buildings identified as obstacles in the funnel of runway at Surat airport. A Nashik-based empanelled surveyor M/s Raj Technologies has been appointed to carry out survey of all the buildings and obstacles within 6.6 kilometre in the approach funnel of runway at Vesu end by the end of August and submit the report to the airport director and other concerned authorities in the western region of AAI latest by October this year.According to the reply from the AAI under RTI, the Surat airport director will submit all the details to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) about the violation as per Rule 5 of the Aircraft (demolition of obstructions caused by buildings and trees etc.) Rule, 1994. The final order by DGCA directing the owners to demolish the buildings as per Rule 6 of the Aircraft (demolition of obstructions caused by buildings and trees, etc) Rule, 1994 will be announced by the end of this year.An officer at Surat airport asking anonymity said, “Due to the building height obstructing the funnel of the runway, the DGCA has displaced 615 metre of the runway. Out of 2,905 metre, we have only 2,250 metre runway for use. If the building heights are trimmed, then the entire full length runway would be used by aircrafts and the future development of runway expansion at 3,810 metre will be taken up on priority basis.”

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