New Delhi

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and sought a review of building height restrictions around defence airports in Bengaluru, saying the curbs were affecting the city’s vertical growth.

Bengaluru currently has four operational airports, including two defence airbases — HAL Airport and Yelahanka Air Force Station. Builders seeking permission for projects in surrounding areas are required to obtain No Objection Certificates from the relevant airport authorities.

In a formal submission, Shivakumar said that under GSR 751(E), structures are limited to a height of 150 metres only within a 15-km radius of defence airports. However, he alleged that authorities were enforcing the same cap up to 20 km, extending the restriction beyond what the rules specify.

He stated that this effectively brings an additional 78 per cent of land in the 15-20 km zone under unnecessary limitations.

The Deputy Chief Minister warned that restricting vertical development in Bengaluru’s core areas would push expansion outward in an unplanned manner and could hamper the state government’s efforts to ensure orderly urban growth.

He urged the Defence Minister to reconsider the restrictions while balancing aviation safety with the city’s development needs.

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Shivakumar is also expected to meet other Union ministers during his visit to the national capital over the next two days.