The high court on Tuesday issued notices to the Union, State governments and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in connection with a petition filed by Agni Aero Sports, Jakkur, seeking to save the Jakkur aerodrome from being partially demolished due to the elevated highway (EH) project.
Justice A S Bopanna issued notices to the State government, Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, Chairman of the NHAI and the Director of the Government Flying Training School, Jakkur. The court directed them to file objections to a petition challenging the construction of the EH.
The petitioner submitted that the EH has come up in the ‘no obstruction’ zone of the Jakkur runway approach funnel, putting the safety of flight operations at risk.
The petitioners submitted that the inaction on the part of the authorities, in exercising their power under the Aircraft Act 1934 and in preventing illegal constructions in the vicinity, will endanger human lives. “It might also lead to the closure of the aerodrome and the city losing another precious lung space to real estate sharks,” the petitioners submitted.
They stated that the highway has effectively reduced the runway’s usable length from 850 metres to 500 metres. The petition seeks to demolish the portion of the EH 45 metres on either side from the extended centreline of the aerodrome runway or modify the plan.