Surat Airport Hides Obstacle Data, Endangering Public and Flyers

Surat, Gujarat – In a stunning revelation, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has admitted that 28 buildings around Surat Airport are violating height regulations under the Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) criteria. However, in a disturbing move that puts thousands of lives at risk, the list of these buildings has been deliberately kept hidden from the public.

The admission came in a written reply by Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, to Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil on July 28. But despite this acknowledgement, neither the AAI nor Surat Airport officials have made the list of height-obstructing buildings public.

“The fact that this information is being withheld under the guise of ‘commercial confidence’ is outrageous,” said aviation safety activist Mukesh Shah. “This is not just about buildings. It’s about human lives. If planes are endangered during landing or take-off, the consequences could be catastrophic.”

Repeated RTI applications filed by concerned citizens to obtain the list of obstacle buildings have been denied. The airport authority cites Chapter II, para 8(d) of the RTI Act — claiming the list contains trade secrets and commercial data.

But critics say this is a blatant misuse of the law.

“How can protecting the profits of builders be more important than protecting passengers and residents?” questioned Anjali Desai, a resident of Piplod. “People are buying homes in these buildings without knowing they’re at risk. If demolitions happen, who will take responsibility for their losses?”

Surat Airport has undergone seven OLS surveys since 2016, and notices have been issued periodically. Still, no updated list is available for public viewing — neither at the airport nor through the Surat Municipal Corporation.

Legal experts argue that under Section 8(2) of the RTI Act, information must be disclosed if it involves public safety or larger public interest.

“The authority’s refusal to share this list is not only unlawful, it is unethical,” said RTI activist Devendra Joshi. “Transparency isn’t optional when public lives are at stake.”

Citizens and activists are demanding urgent action. The Surat Airport authority must : Immediately release the list of OLS-violating buildings,Display it at airport and municipal offices,Make it available via RTI for a nominal fee, and update the list regularly after every survey

The skies above Surat should be safe — and so should the lives beneath them. It’s time for accountability, not secrecy.