Minister Rammohan Naidu calls for transparent, automated and time-bound system to boost Ease of Doing Business while ensuring aviation safety
New Delhi : Union Minister for Civil Aviation Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu chaired a meeting with senior officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to review measures aimed at improving the Ease of Doing Business in the civil aviation sector.
A major focus of the meeting was the simplification and streamlining of the No Objection Certificate (NOC) process, particularly for building and infrastructure-related proposals.
Shri Rammohan Naidu stressed that the NOC system should be made hassle-free, transparent, automated and time-bound, with minimum manual intervention. The proposed changes are intended to make the process easier for members of the public, housing societies, builders and industry, while ensuring that all aviation safety requirements continue to be fully maintained.
Building Height Information to Be Available at Initial Stage
The Minister also examined the possibility of providing applicants with information on permissible or identified building heights at the initial stage itself, especially in major metropolitan centres such as Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad.
Making such information available upfront would allow applicants, builders and other stakeholders to assess the feasibility of their projects and plan construction in accordance with applicable height restrictions from the beginning.
Aeronautical Study Approvals to Be Streamlined
The meeting also reviewed the existing procedure for Aeronautical Studies, with discussions focused on making approvals faster and simpler.
Officials considered whether physical site verification could be reduced or avoided at the initial stage wherever feasible. The meeting also discussed rationalising the requirement for submitting Building Development Plans and other supporting documents, with the objective of reducing unnecessary procedural burdens.
NOCAS Coverage and Decentralisation Examined
The geographical coverage of the No Objection Certificate Application System (NOCAS) was also reviewed.
At present, NOCAS covers areas within 20 kilometres for VFR (Visual Flight Rules) operations and 56 kilometres for IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) operations.
The meeting considered the feasibility of issuing NOCs at the Urban Local Body (ULB) level, wherever practical. Such decentralisation could reduce the need for individuals and industries to approach AAI directly for obtaining clearances.
15-Day Deadline for Implementation Plan
Shri Rammohan Naidu directed the concerned officials to examine the proposed measures and work out detailed modalities for simplifying, automating and decentralising the NOC process.
The Minister asked officials to take necessary action and prepare the implementation framework within 15 days.
The reforms are aimed at creating a more predictable, transparent and efficient clearance mechanism, with relevant data and permissible building-height information made readily available to the public through digital platforms, including the official website.
The Minister emphasised that faster clearances must go hand in hand with strict aviation safety standards. A streamlined NOC framework is expected to facilitate infrastructure and construction projects, encourage investment, support economic activity and employment generation, and contribute to overall economic growth.
In essence, the Ministry is looking to shift the NOC system towards a faster, largely automated and decentralised model—making approvals easier for applicants without compromising aviation safety.