Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu held a meeting with senior officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India in New Delhi to review measures aimed at promoting Ease of Doing Business in the civil aviation sector.
A key focus of the meeting was the simplification and streamlining of the process for issuing No Objection Certificates. The Minister emphasised that the NOC process should be hassle-free, transparent, automated and time-bound, with minimal manual intervention.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Rammohan Naidu reviewed measures to simplify the civil aviation NOC process.
The NOC process is proposed to become hassle-free, transparent, automated and time-bound.
Minimal manual intervention is being targeted.
Officials have been given a 15-day timeline to work out modalities and take necessary action.
Issuing NOCs at the Urban Local Body level is being examined wherever feasible.
Building-height information could be provided to applicants at the initial stage.
Naidu directed the concerned officials to examine and work out modalities for simplifying, automating and decentralising the NOC process and take necessary action for their implementation within a timeline of 15 days.
The proposed reforms are aimed at facilitating members of the general public, societies, builders and industry while ensuring that regulatory requirements related to aviation safety continue to be addressed.
The meeting also discussed the feasibility of issuing NOCs at the Urban Local Body level wherever feasible. This could reduce the need for individuals and industries to approach the Airports Authority of India directly for obtaining NOCs.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
A simpler and more predictable NOC process could reduce administrative hurdles for individuals, societies, builders and industries seeking aviation-related clearances. Providing permissible building-height information at an early stage could also help applicants plan development in accordance with applicable aviation-related restrictions.
Another proposal discussed was providing applicants with permissible or identified building-height information at the initial stage itself, particularly in major metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad.
The meeting also examined the process relating to Aeronautical Studies, including measures to simplify and expedite approvals and rationalise requirements for physical verification, Building Development Plans and other documentation.
The existing geographical coverage of the No Objection Certificate Application System was also reviewed. NOCAS presently covers areas within 20 km for Visual Flight Rules operations and 56 km for Instrument Flight Rules operations.
The proposed reforms are intended to provide faster and more predictable clearances while ensuring that aviation safety requirements are not compromised.
