Delhi Air Funnel Zones: Building Height Restrictions

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Delhi Air Funnel Zones: Building Height Restrictions map

Overview

Delhi Air Funnel Zones layer on 1acre maps the Airports Authority of India (AAI) Colour Coded Zoning Map (CCZM) for the Indira Gandhi International Airport area. This layer is drawn from AAI's official CCZM, prepared under the Ministry of Civil Aviation Height Restrictions Rules 2015 (G.S.R. 751(E)). The CCZM covers a 20 km radius from the IGI aerodrome reference point and governs every structure within that area. This page explains which Delhi localities sit inside restriction zones, what the height caps mean for your build potential, and what clearances you must hold before signing a sale deed. This layer

IGI Airport Red Zone and Approach Funnel: The Height Traps That Kill Resale

Two distinct restrictions operate around IGI, and confusing them costs buyers money. The red zone under the CCZM is the tighter ring: until 2020, the red zone covered 129 sq km around IGI, within which no structure above 18 m could be built without a mandatory AAI NOC. Following rule changes, the red zone area was reduced to 60 sq km, but the 18 m ceiling inside it remains unchanged. The approach funnel is more severe still, applying directly along the runway approach and departure paths. In the funnel, permitted height equals 2% of the distance from the runway edge: a plot 1,000 m from the runway edge is capped at just 20 m.

The CCZM divides the full 20 km radius into colour-coded grids, each carrying a Permissible Top Elevation (PTE) measured in metres above mean sea level (AMSL). The table below shows the key surface zones and what they mean for construction.

Approach / Departure Funnel

Distance from Runway Edge

Directly aligned with runway ends

Approximate Height Cap

2% of distance from runway edge

AAI NOC Required?

Yes, mandatory

Inner Horizontal Surface

Distance from Runway Edge

Up to 4 km from aerodrome

Approximate Height Cap

45 m AGL

AAI NOC Required?

Yes, unless below CCZM PTE

Conical Surface

Distance from Runway Edge

4 km to outer boundary

Approximate Height Cap

Increases gradually

AAI NOC Required?

Depends on CCZM grid

Red Zone (CCZM)

Distance from Runway Edge

Approx. 60 sq km around IGI

Approximate Height Cap

18 m without NOC

AAI NOC Required?

Yes for anything above 18 m

General 20 km radius

Distance from Runway Edge

Up to 20 km from aerodrome

Approximate Height Cap

Varies by grid

AAI NOC Required?

Yes; NOCAS auto-settles if below PTE

Zone / Surface

Distance from Runway Edge

Approximate Height Cap

AAI NOC Required?

Approach / Departure Funnel

Directly aligned with runway ends

2% of distance from runway edge

Yes, mandatory

Inner Horizontal Surface

Up to 4 km from aerodrome

45 m AGL

Yes, unless below CCZM PTE

Conical Surface

4 km to outer boundary

Increases gradually

Depends on CCZM grid

Red Zone (CCZM)

Approx. 60 sq km around IGI

18 m without NOC

Yes for anything above 18 m

General 20 km radius

Up to 20 km from aerodrome

Varies by grid

Yes; NOCAS auto-settles if below PTE

Delhi's CCZM threshold starts at just 7.77 m, meaning builders in this city need AAI approval for structures as low as a two-storey house in affected grids, far stricter than most other Indian cities. If a broker is showing you a plot in Dwarka, Mahipalpur, Kapashera, or Vasant Kunj without mentioning the CCZM grid reference for that survey number, treat that as a warning sign.

Where the Funnel Falls: Key Corridors and What Buyers Actually Face

The IGI airport funnel is not an abstraction; it has put construction on hold at specific addresses. AAI directed the DDA to halt construction at nearly 100 plots in Dwarka Sector 8 after determining the buildings fell inside the runway 27/9 and 28/10 approach paths. That is the clearest on-record example of the funnel ending a buyer's plans after purchase.

The table below maps the major Delhi corridors by their relationship to the funnel zones and what that means practically.

Dwarka Sector 8

Zone Relationship

Directly in runway 27/9 & 28/10 approach path

Practical Constraint

Construction halted on record by AAI; DDA-issued NOC letters to plot owners

Buyer Risk

High: funnel zone directly overhead

Mahipalpur / Rangpuri

Zone Relationship

Inside red zone CCZM boundary

Practical Constraint

18 m hard ceiling; multi-storey construction requires AAI NOC

Buyer Risk

Medium-High: dense unregulated construction present

Kapashera / Bijwasan

Zone Relationship

Red zone perimeter; some grids in approach path

Practical Constraint

2-6 storey buildings can trigger NOC requirement

Buyer Risk

Medium: verify CCZM grid before any purchase

Vasant Kunj

Zone Relationship

Partial overlap; norms eased for high-rises after 2020

Practical Constraint

Higher-rise approvals easier now, but site-specific CCZM grid still governs

Buyer Risk

Medium: premium zone with complex layered clearances

Aerocity

Zone Relationship

Adjacent to airport boundary

Practical Constraint

Commercial use; primarily DIAL-governed approvals

Buyer Risk

Low for residential; high for commercial height

Corridor / Locality

Zone Relationship

Practical Constraint

Buyer Risk

Dwarka Sector 8

Directly in runway 27/9 & 28/10 approach path

Construction halted on record by AAI; DDA-issued NOC letters to plot owners

High: funnel zone directly overhead

Mahipalpur / Rangpuri

Inside red zone CCZM boundary

18 m hard ceiling; multi-storey construction requires AAI NOC

Medium-High: dense unregulated construction present

Kapashera / Bijwasan

Red zone perimeter; some grids in approach path

2-6 storey buildings can trigger NOC requirement

Medium: verify CCZM grid before any purchase

Vasant Kunj

Partial overlap; norms eased for high-rises after 2020

Higher-rise approvals easier now, but site-specific CCZM grid still governs

Medium: premium zone with complex layered clearances

Aerocity

Adjacent to airport boundary

Commercial use; primarily DIAL-governed approvals

Low for residential; high for commercial height

The most misunderstood corridor is Vasant Kunj. News of eased norms in 2020 led many buyers and brokers to assume height restrictions no longer apply. They do. Eased norms mean the red zone shrank and the online NOCAS system simplified approvals; they do not mean any plot in Vasant Kunj is free of height limits. Every plot still sits within a CCZM grid with its own PTE figure, and the lowest applicable surface restriction governs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum building height allowed near Delhi IGI airport?

It depends on which zone your plot falls in. Inside the red zone, the ceiling is 18 m without a prior AAI NOC. In the approach funnel, the cap is 2% of your distance from the runway edge. Check your plot's CCZM grid on NOCAS before assuming any fixed limit.

Do I need an AAI NOC to buy a plot near IGI airport in Delhi?

You need an AAI NOC before constructing, not before purchasing. However, buying without verifying the CCZM grid height cap is the error that leads to stranded assets. Confirm permissible height before signing any sale agreement.

Which areas in Delhi fall inside the IGI airport air funnel zones?

Dwarka Sector 8, Mahipalpur, Rangpuri, Kapashera, and Bijwasan are the most directly affected. Parts of Vasant Kunj also sit within height-restricted CCZM grids. The funnel aligns specifically with the runway 27/9 and 28/10 approach and departure paths.

How do I check if my Delhi plot is in an airport height restriction zone?

Use the NOCAS 2 portal at nocas2.aai.aero. Enter your plot's WGS-84 coordinates and site elevation. The system returns the Permissible Top Elevation for that grid. If the PTE is below your intended build height, an NOC application is mandatory before any local body approval.

What is the red zone near IGI airport and how large is it?

The red zone is the portion of the AAI CCZM where building heights above 18 m require a mandatory NOC. Its area was reduced from 129 sq km to 60 sq km around IGI after 2020. The funnel and approach paths within that area carry even stricter, site-specific limits.

Can I build a multi-storey house in Dwarka Sector 8 near the airport?

This is the critical question for that sector: AAI has already halted construction there. Any build requires a fresh AAI NOC showing the proposed height is below the CCZM PTE for your specific coordinates. The DDA has issued formal letters to plot owners in Sector 8 confirming this requirement.

What is NOCAS and how do I apply for AAI height clearance in Delhi?

NOCAS (No Objection Certificate Application System) is AAI's online portal at nocas2.aai.aero. Register with your email, submit WGS-84 site coordinates and elevation, and the system either auto-settles your case or routes it for manual review by the AAI Delhi office.

What happens if a building violates the IGI airport funnel zone height rules?

Structures built in violation can be treated as illegal under the Aircraft (Demolition of Obstructions caused by Buildings and Trees) Rules, 1994. State and district authorities are responsible for removal or height reduction. Occupancy certificates can be withheld or cancelled.

Disclaimer

Air funnel zone boundaries and height restrictions shown here are indicative. Users should verify details with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) via the NOCAS portal (nocas.aai.aero) or relevant defence authorities before any construction or development decision.