Illegal Cranes, No Lights Risk Surat Airport Safety

Surat, Gujarat – In a scathing letter addressed to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) chairman, Sanjay Ezhava, President of the Surat Airport Action Committee (SAAC), has raised serious alarm over ongoing violations of the Aircraft Act, 1994 near Surat Airport, including illegal high-rise tower cranes and the lack of mandatory anti-collision lights on buildings surrounding the airfield.

Ezhava, a longtime airport safety activist, warned that these violations pose a direct threat to aircraft during take-off and landing, particularly in early morning hours when fog and low visibility are common in the region.

“Many buildings near the airport have already reached their height limits, but they’ve failed to install anti-collision lights. This is a basic safety requirement ignored at the cost of lives,” Ezhava stated.

“A single violation can endanger hundreds of lives — are we waiting for a tragedy to act?” – Sanjay Ezhava

According to Ezhava, many buildings, including those under construction, are flouting the No Objection Certificate (NOC) rules issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). These NOCs are mandatory for any structure within a certain radius of the airport to ensure airspace is clear for safe navigation.

“From sunset to sunrise, every high point must be illuminated with anti-collision lights as per regulations. The failure to do so is not just negligence—it’s a violation of national aviation laws,” he added.

Equally alarming is the presence of tower cranes on construction sites whose heights exceed the permissible NOC limits, further encroaching into the aircraft’s glide path.

“These cranes are more dangerous than the buildings themselves. They’re temporary, unmonitored, and in some cases, even exceed the height of the structures they’re building. It’s a disaster waiting to happen,” Ezhava said.

He urged the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) and local developers to take immediate corrective measures, including reducing crane height and ensuring all structures, permanent or temporary, are equipped with working anti-collision lights.

“The authorities must act now, not after an incident occurs. Passenger safety and the reputation of Surat Airport are at stake,” Ezhava stated.