Buildings and structures within a 20-km radius of airports that obstruct flight operations and violate height regulations can now be demolished by the government.The Ministry of Civil Aviation has notified the new Aircraft (Demolition of Obstructions caused by Buildings and Trees) Rules, 2026, replacing the older rules that had been in force since 1994.These rules, in a first, specify the area within which the demolition of non-compliant structures can take place. The specified area is as “not exceeding 20 km from the aerodrome reference point”. It can include buildings and trees.The order has implications for people owning property near airports with the government sending a reminder that aviation security is non-negotiable and building height restrictions around aerodromes are serious legal requirements, not mere advisories.No compensation for offendersThose who construct in violation of the government’s height restriction notification even after receiving a notice won’t be entitled to compensation. This provision is meant to deter those who continue to build illegally even after being warned.“Before undertaking any construction near an airport, property owners must check whether their land falls within an area that can extend up to 20 km from the aerodrome reference point and ensure that their planned construction does not exceed the permissible height limits,” officials say.The notification follows public consultations initiated after the deadly June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171 crash that killed 240 people, and prescribes the legal framework for the demolition of unauthorised structures.If the violators fail to comply, the District Collector is empowered to carry out the demolition.The rules, sources said, were needed in the light of India’s rapid airport expansion and the growth of urban settlements around existing airports which have created an increasingly serious problem — buildings, towers, trees and other tall structures coming up in zones that are critical to the safe approach and departure of aircraft.The 1994 rules were inadequate, the government officials say.Under the new rules, the process of compliance starts when the officer-in-charge of the airport authority has reasons to believe that a building or tree within the notified area is not complying with the government’s notification regarding height restrictions.The officer will first serve a formal notice on the owner with a copy to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The DGCA would then order the owner to provide a plan showing the exact location and dimensions of the building within 60 days. This can be extended by another 60 days on valid grounds.If the owner fails to comply, the airport authority’s report will be treated as final and followed by physical verification.“The DGCA, after examining the evidence and hearing the respondents, may, if satisfied that height restrictions have been violated, direct the owner to either demolish the structure or reduce its height to the permissible level. The owner must comply within 60 days, and an appeal may be filed within 30 days of the order. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the airport officer may refer the matter to the District Collector, who is empowered under the rules to carry out demolition or height reduction in the same manner as any unauthorised construction in the district,” the notification states.