Mumbai, Ahmedabad among Indian airports facing heightened safety risks due to dense urban surroundings
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport
tops the global list, while Ahmedabad's
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport
ranks 12th, weeks after it witnessed one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Indian history, reported TOI.
A 2022 study titled You're Surrounded! Measuring the Enclosure of Airports in Urban Areas, by Belgian researchers Taïs Grippa and Frédéric Dobruszkes, highlights the dangers of airports hemmed in by residential zones. The paper, published in The Professional Geographer, introduced an "enclosure index" based on population density within a 15km radius around airports. Densely populated areas near flight paths increase risks on the ground in case of mishaps, besides escalating long-term exposure to noise and air pollution.
Mumbai's airport scores an enclosure index of 21,82,819, higher than any other airport globally, while Ahmedabad's is 10,82,503. Other Indian cities on the list include Delhi, Bengaluru, and Surat, indicating a nationwide trend of airports being enveloped by rapid urbanisation.
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Close calls in Ahmedabad
The implications of such enclosure were tragically illustrated in Ahmedabad's Meghaninagar area on June 12, when an Air India flight crashed just after take-off, narrowly missing residential clusters and the Civil Hospital campus. In New Laxminagar, a housing colony just 250 metres from the crash site, residents are still shaken.
'It could have been us,' said Ila, a Block F resident, pointing to charred remnants on the BJ Medical College campus. Nearby shopkeeper Rajesh Dantani gestured to the crash site just behind his store, still within sight of aircraft thundering overhead from the nearby runway.
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'Unusually, on that day, this flight failed to maintain its glide angle over Block F,' Ila added, emphasising how close the neighbourhood came to disaster.
Poor enforcement of buffer zones
Experts have long warned of lax enforcement of zoning laws around Indian airports. A report by Subhash Kumar, former fire services GM at the Airports Authority of India (AAI), notes that Ahmedabad's rapid growth has eroded the 3km buffer traditionally maintained around airports. The proximity of dense housing to flight paths, the report warns, amplified casualties and hindered rescue operations.
Urban planning guidelines recommend a 20km low-development zone around airports to prevent encroachments and ensure safety. However, enforcement remains patchy. While new airports are advised to maintain 6–8 sq km of clear space, city expansion has steadily encroached on older airports built on erstwhile outskirts.
'Many airports, like in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Delhi, were originally on the periphery,' said Utpal Sharma, chair professor at Nirma University. 'We did not anticipate this growth.'
When the funnel is breached
Aviation experts are also concerned about obstruction of the 'airport funnel', the designated flight path corridor used for take-off and landing. Buildings that pierce this path create safety hazards. In Surat, which ranks 39th in the global enclosure index, at least 20 buildings were found to obstruct the funnel back in 2016, and many remain unchanged.
'This regulatory provision has existed for over 30 years,' said urban planner P. L. Sharma. 'Yet, in places like Bhavnagar, there isn't even a mechanism to measure violations.'
In Vadodara, authorities tried to mitigate risk by designating surrounding zones as industrial rather than residential. However, experts warn that such zoning shifts remain rare exceptions.
Push for greenfield solutions
With India planning 50 new airports for better connectivity and growth, experts are urging a rethink in urban-airport integration. 'Safety around airports must be prioritised, especially since most air disasters occur during take-offs and landings,' said Mumbai architect Laxmi Bhagwat. She questioned whether current height restrictions are adequate, as permissions for buildings over 150m near Panvel's upcoming airport raise safety concerns.
Ahmedabad's future lies in Dholera, where a greenfield airport has been proposed. While construction is underway, the existing airport is still being expanded. But experts argue that partial expansions won't solve systemic issues.
'This is not how international airports are developed,' said former AAI engineer Amitabh Pawde. 'Air safety requires comprehensive planning, including space for future runways. That's not possible at Ahmedabad airport. The only alternative is to shift it.'
He also pointed to another overlooked factor: high ambient temperatures. 'Hotter cities have rarer air, which affects aircraft thrust during take-off.'
Social cost of poor planning
Despite the clear risks, large populations continue to live in close quarters to India's busiest airports. In Mumbai, for example, the massive Dharavi slum borders both airport terminals. Most residents are unaware of the risks posed by their proximity to flight paths.
'You can't expect low-cost housing residents to know aviation regulations,' said Sharma. 'Their immediate concern is having a roof over their heads.'
When accidents occur, the financial compensation offered is often inadequate, especially for those whose injuries permanently affect their livelihoods. 'Recovery is a long and difficult process for the poor,' said a civic official.
Metropolitan planning is key
Experts agree that the solution lies in more holistic planning. 'Planning must happen at the metropolitan level, not just at the municipal level,' said Utpal Sharma. Under the 74th Constitutional Amendment, cities with populations over 1 million must form Metropolitan Planning Committees (MPCs) to coordinate growth strategies. Cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru already have defined metropolitan boundaries, but implementation lags.
'Airports draw development,' said an aviation industry source. 'Even if built far from the city, satellite populations emerge. Accidents are rare, but the compromise between connectivity and safety must be managed wisely.'
Without bold, coordinated policy and stronger enforcement of development norms, experts warn that Indian cities may continue to gamble with lives on the ground, until the next disaster forces yet another reckoning.
With inputs from TOI
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