Gujarat HC to hear PIL on hazardous buildings near Surat airport today

The Gujarat High Court has advanced the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) alleging serious safety violations near Surat airport. This comes in the wake of the Air India tragedy that claimed more than 270 lives in Ahmedabad.

The PIL, filed by social activist Vishwas Bamburkar, highlights the threat posed by multi-storey and allegedly illegal buildings in and around the Surat airport and aerodrome zone. Bamburkar requested the court to advance the hearing, originally listed for July, citing immediate risks to public safety.

Responding to the plea, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice D N Ray scheduled the matter for an urgent hearing on Thursday.

Over 141 buildings flagged, emergency survey underway

In the aftermath of the Ahmedabad crash, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) issued notices to more than 141 residents to vacate buildings identified as dangerous near the airport. The move sparked public outcry and prompted an emergency survey jointly conducted by the SMC and the Surat Collectorate.

The PIL contends that such high-rise constructions violate aviation safety norms and existing regulations, posing serious risks to air traffic, passengers, crew members, and the surrounding population. According to the petitioner, these structures should never have received approval and must be demolished under the Aircraft Act, 1984.

Questions over how buildings were approved

While many of the flagged buildings have reportedly received No Objection Certificates (NOCs), the petition argues that such clearances should not override safety considerations. In fast-growing cities like Surat, experts note that regulatory gaps between civic bodies and aviation authorities can lead to overlapping or inconsistent approvals. Some buildings may have exploited procedural loopholes, outdated surveys, or lack of inter-agency coordination to secure permissions—raising questions about how they were allowed so close to an operational airport.

Court urged to prioritise lives over NOCs

Bamburkar drew a parallel with a recent bomb threat at the Gujarat High Court, which led to an immediate evacuation and probe. “This matter involves the lives of over 47,000 people,” the petitioner said, adding that it deserves even greater urgency.

The PIL argues that even in cases where builders have obtained NOCs, the risk to human lives outweighs procedural approvals. The petition demands that such “dangerous constructions” be demolished and those responsible—builders and other parties—be held accountable through both civil and criminal proceedings.

Authorities urged to act swiftly

The petitioner called on the SMC and other relevant authorities to take swift and decisive action, warning that delays could lead to avoidable loss of life. The court is expected to address the matter with urgency during Thursday’s hearing.