Politics

DCM D K Shivakumar Appeals to Union Minister Rajnath Singh for Defence Land for Various Projects in Bengaluru

By Editor

Posted on April 25, 2026

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DCM D K Shivakumar Appeals to Union Minister Rajnath Singh for Defence Land for Various Projects in Bengaluru

New Delhi : Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar appealed to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to ease building height restrictions imposed by the Defence Ministry around airports in Bengaluru and provide Defence land for various infrastructure projects in Bengaluru.

The DCM, who is also in charge of Bengaluru Development, held discussions with the Union Minister in New Delhi on Friday and submitted a memorandum.

In the memorandum, he said, “Some policies of the Defence Department are hindering Bengaluru’s progress. Airport authorities are imposing excessive restrictions while issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for construction activities within a 20 km radius of Bengaluru’s defence airports. Bengaluru is one of the world’s fastest-growing cities. The HAL Airport is located in the heart of Bengaluru, where demand for real estate development is high. However, the additional restrictions imposed are obstructing development in these areas.”

“Letters have already been written to the Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Secretary of the Department of Defence Production under the Ministry of Defence, and the Defence Secretary regarding this. Please direct the authorities concerned to review the matter keeping in mind both aviation safety and urban development, and take necessary steps to resolve the issues that have arisen,” the memorandum said.

“Currently, four airports are operational in Bengaluru, of which HAL and Yelahanka Air Base function under the Defence Ministry. An NOC from Airport authorities is required for construction in the surrounding areas. GSR 751(E) specifies that the building height limit within 15 km of an airport is set at 150 metres. However, Defence Department airports have not only imposed excessive restrictions but have also extended the limit to 20 km. These restrictions are detrimental to Bengaluru’s progress. In cities such as Singapore, Amsterdam, Dallas, London, and Dubai, airports are used for multiple purposes including offices and entertainment — serving not just as transit hubs but as employment centres playing a major role in urban transformation. Therefore, GSR 751(E) should be relaxed and the 150-metre height limit should be restricted to a 15 km radius instead of 20 km,” the memorandum appealed.

Appeal for Defence Department Land for Various Projects
The DCM requested Defence Department land required for various projects undertaken to ease traffic congestion in Bengaluru. He requested 2 acres of land near Hebbal for the Twin Tunnel Project, designed as a solution to Bengaluru’s traffic congestion. He also requested 1.19 acres for the Rotary Flyover connecting Baiyappanahalli Railway Junction, appealing for the land to be transferred as soon as possible for swift implementation of the project.

A proposed 60-feet connecting road from Airport Road (Ballari Road) to Sarovar Layout will pass near the Military Dairy Farm. The DCM requested that required Defence land be provided for the project and assured to hand over alternate land in exchange.

A 24-metre road from the Government Hospital on Lower Agaram Road via Sarjapur Road to Ejipura Junction requires 13.7 acres of land. Mr Shivakumar conveyed that all these lands need to be transferred swiftly to resolve Bengaluru’s traffic congestion. He said that the Defence land transfer would not hinder Defence Department’s operations in any way.