Patna Air Funnel Zones
AAI
Overview
Patna airport funnel zone restrictions apply to a 20 km radius around Jay Prakash Narayan Airport's aerodrome reference point, and they directly cap how tall any structure on your plot can be. The governing document is the Colour Coded Zoning Map (CCZM) prepared by the Airports Authority of India under GSR 751(E), 2015. It assigns every land parcel in the zone a permitted top elevation in meters AMSL. The airport sits at Patna City with a single runway oriented 07/25 (east-west).
The AMSL Trap: How Patna Airport Height Restrictions Catch Buyers Off Guard
Most buyers near Jay Prakash Narayan Airport focus on price per square foot. They miss the number that matters more: the AMSL ceiling printed on the CCZM grid covering their plot. That ceiling, not the building bylaws, determines how many floors you can actually build, and no amount of municipal approval from Patna Municipal Corporation overrides it.
Overview
Inner Horizontal Surface
Distance from Runway
Within ~4 km of runway ends
Height Rule
Max ~45 m AGL
AAI NOC Required?
Yes, if CCZM grid is red
Approach / Funnel Surface
Distance from Runway
Along runway 07/25 axis, up to ~9 km
Height Rule
2% of distance from runway edge
AAI NOC Required?
Mandatory in all cases
Conical Surface
Distance from Runway
4–15 km from ARP
Height Rule
Gradient slopes upward at 5%
AAI NOC Required?
Depends on CCZM grid colour
Outer Zone
Distance from Runway
Beyond 15 km, within 20 km
Height Rule
Generally permissive; local bylaws apply
AAI NOC Required?
Required only if building exceeds CCZM elevation
Zone Type
Distance from Runway
Height Rule
AAI NOC Required?
Inner Horizontal Surface
Within ~4 km of runway ends
Max ~45 m AGL
Yes, if CCZM grid is red
Approach / Funnel Surface
Along runway 07/25 axis, up to ~9 km
2% of distance from runway edge
Mandatory in all cases
Conical Surface
4–15 km from ARP
Gradient slopes upward at 5%
Depends on CCZM grid colour
Outer Zone
Beyond 15 km, within 20 km
Generally permissive; local bylaws apply
Required only if building exceeds CCZM elevation
Permitted height in the CCZM is stated as AMSL, not above ground level. Your actual allowable floors equal the CCZM elevation minus your site elevation. A plot at 54 m AMSL with a CCZM ceiling of 64 m AMSL allows only 10 m of building height, roughly three floors. Patna airport's runway 07/25 is oriented east-west, so the funnel zone bites hardest along the eastern and western axes: areas toward Phulwari Sharif on the west and Patna City on the east sit directly under approach paths. The Patna Secretariat's clock tower was formally flagged by AAI for violating approach surface limits, with a 17.5-metre height reduction requested. That is not an abstract regulatory concern; it is the practical reality of building anywhere near the Patna airport height restriction corridor.
Borjhar to Bihta: Which Patna Corridors the Funnel Zone Affects Most
Phulwari Sharif
Airport Distance
~2 km (western approach)
Constraint Level
Very High (approach funnel)
Growth Driver
Affordable land, road access
Key Risk
Severe height caps; multi-storey, difficult
Danapur
Airport Distance
~4–6 km (northwest)
Constraint Level
Moderate
Growth Driver
Railway station, Patna Metro corridor
Key Risk
Check the individual CCZM grid; spot variation
Kankarbagh
Airport Distance
~8.5 km (east-southeast)
Constraint Level
Low-Moderate
Growth Driver
Largest residential colony in Patna; PMC zone
Key Risk
Beyond critical funnel; bylaws dominate
Bihta
Airport Distance
~20 km (southwest)
Constraint Level
Minimal (new civil enclave)
Growth Driver
Proposed Bihta airport civil enclave
Key Risk
Acquisition uncertainty; pre-enclave values speculative
Rajendra Nagar / Boring Road
Airport Distance
~7–9 km (south)
Constraint Level
Low
Growth Driver
Patna Master Plan 2031 urbanization zone
Key Risk
Defence airport jurisdiction overlap possible; verify separately
Corridor / Locality
Airport Distance
Constraint Level
Growth Driver
Key Risk
Phulwari Sharif
~2 km (western approach)
Very High (approach funnel)
Affordable land, road access
Severe height caps; multi-storey, difficult
Danapur
~4–6 km (northwest)
Moderate
Railway station, Patna Metro corridor
Check the individual CCZM grid; spot variation
Kankarbagh
~8.5 km (east-southeast)
Low-Moderate
Largest residential colony in Patna; PMC zone
Beyond critical funnel; bylaws dominate
Bihta
~20 km (southwest)
Minimal (new civil enclave)
Proposed Bihta airport civil enclave
Acquisition uncertainty; pre-enclave values speculative
Rajendra Nagar / Boring Road
~7–9 km (south)
Low
Patna Master Plan 2031 urbanization zone
Defence airport jurisdiction overlap possible; verify separately
Bihta is the most misunderstood corridor. The Airports Authority of India awarded a ₹459.99 crore contract for the civil enclave at Bihta Air Force Station, with construction beginning April 2025. Land within 5 km of the proposed terminal has attracted investor interest, but no CCZM for Bihta has yet been published. Buying land close to the Bihta terminal site before that map is released carries the same regulatory opacity that Patna city buyers have faced for decades at Jay Prakash Narayan Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Patna airport funnel zone and does it affect my plot?
Yes, it can. The funnel zone runs along runway 07/25's east-west axis and caps building height at 2% of the distance from the runway edge. Every plot within 20 km of Jay Prakash Narayan Airport's ARP falls under AAI's CCZM and requires a height check via the NOCAS portal.
Do I need an AAI NOC to build near Patna airport?
Yes, if your proposed building's top elevation in AMSL exceeds the CCZM grid's Permitted Top Elevation, or if your grid is marked red. Below the ceiling, Patna Municipal Corporation can approve directly. Above it, apply through AAI's NOCAS portal before beginning any construction.
How is AMSL height calculated for a plot near Patna airport?
Subtract your plot's ground elevation in metres AMSL from the CCZM Permitted Top Elevation for your grid square. The result is your maximum above ground level building height. Get site elevation certified by a licensed surveyor; the NOCAS system then calculates the PTE comparison automatically.
What is the maximum building height within 4 km of Patna airport?
Within the inner horizontal surface, roughly 4 km from runway ends, the cap is approximately 45 m AGL. In the approach funnel directly east or west of runway 07/25, permitted height equals 2% of distance from the runway edge: 1,000 m away allows only 20 m of height.
What happened with the Patna Secretariat clock tower and the airport?
AAI formally requested a 17.5 m reduction in the Secretariat's 49.5 m clock tower height because it sits in the airport's approach path. Aircraft descend at a steeper angle than the standard 2.5 degrees because of surrounding obstructions, making this the most visible example of Patna's funnel zone conflict.
Does the Bihta airport project create new height restrictions near Patna?
Yes, it will. Once AAI publishes a CCZM for the Bihta civil enclave, land near the proposed terminal site will face fresh funnel zone caps. No CCZM for Bihta has been notified yet. Buyers near Bihta should treat this regulatory gap as a material risk before committing to any purchase.
Where can I view the official CCZM map for Patna airport?
The AAI-certified CCZM for Patna is available on AAI's NOCAS portal. Heights shown are AMSL. Deduct your certified site elevation to calculate your actual permitted building height above ground for any specific survey number or plot location in Patna.
Disclaimer
Patna Air Funnel Zones is only accessible with Premium Subscription.
Data Source & Verification
Source
Official Airports Authority of India (AAI) / Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) documents
Official Website
aai.aero
Coordinate Reference System
EPSG:4326 (WGS 84)
Geometry Type
Polygon / MultiPolygon
Data Format
Raster Tiles (from GeoTIFF)
Last Verified
2026
Status
Active