INTACH voices concern over low-level flights near heritage sites from BPIA
Bhubaneswar, June 19 (UNI) The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has raised serious concerns over low-altitude flights taking off from the main runway of Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), Bhubaneswar.
Anil Dhir, convenor of the INTACH Bhubaneswar Chapter, has written to the Director of BPIA urging amendments to the existing Standard Instrument Departure (SID) chart for the airport's main runway.
Dhir has also brought the matter to the attention of the Superintendent Archaeologist of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Bhubaneswar Circle, as well as the Union Culture Secretary.
In his letter, Dhir pointed out that many aircraft departing from runway 14/32 at BPIA make a sharp ascending right turn almost immediately after takeoff — sometimes even before the landing gear is fully retracted. This maneuver brings the aircraft alarmingly close to the ancient Lingaraj temple.
Based on a two-month study conducted in the Old Town area of Bhubaneswar, where the temple is located, Dhir observed that several aircraft come dangerously close to the temple structure. The temple's main spire stands 180 feet (55 meters) tall, while the aircraft at the point of the turn are often at altitudes of just 1,000 to 1,200 feet.
A former trainee pilot, Dhir emphasized that although the current departure pattern adheres to the SID outlined by Bhubaneswar Air Traffic Control, it is avoidable. He suggested that delaying the right turn by merely 10 seconds would ensure aircraft fly well clear of the heritage structure.
He warned that low-level flights over such ancient monuments, especially during takeoff when engines operate at full thrust, pose significant risks, including physical damage, intense noise pollution, and structural vibrations that may harm the temple.
"The structural integrity of the Lingaraj temple is already in a fragile state," Dhir stated. "Continued exposure to such vibrations could exacerbate existing weaknesses, potentially resulting in cracks, loosening of stone joints, and even partial or complete collapse."
Dhir has submitted photographs and video evidence, including recordings taken from within aircraft as a passenger. He identified flights operated by Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa as those flying closest to the temple. In contrast, several other aircraft departing from the same runway maintain a straight climb, avoiding the heritage zone altogether.
Flying over ASI-protected monuments is generally prohibited within designated restricted zones. Even drones or other aerial devices are banned near such sites under current regulations.
Dhir reminded that the ASI bears the responsibility of protecting these historical structures and that any aerial activity posing potential harm is in violation of these protective mandates.
Citing the recent Air India Dreamliner crash at Ahmedabad Airport, Dhir, a heritage expert, urged authorities to treat this issue with utmost seriousness.
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