Hyderabad Air Funnel Zones
AAI
Overview
Hyderabad airport funnel zone restrictions affect every parcel within 20 km of Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) at Shamshabad, covering the entire HADA area of 458 sq km across 70 revenue villages in Ranga Reddy District. Under the Ministry of Civil Aviation Height Restriction Rules 2015, no structure within this radius can be built without a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Airports Authority of India. The AAI has published a Colour Coded Zoning Map (CCZM) specifically for Hyderabad-Shamshabad to show Permissible Top Elevation for each grid. This page explains zone-by-zone height caps, the corridors where land still offers development potential, and the exact checks your lawyer must run before any land transaction in this area.
Height Restriction Traps That Kill Development Rights in the HADA Zone
Approach / Funnel Surface
Distance from Runway
0–500 m (runway strip)
Max Permitted Height
No construction
NOC Authority
AAI
Inner Horizontal Surface
Distance from Runway
Up to 4 km from aerodrome
Max Permitted Height
45 m
NOC Authority
AAI via NOCAS
Outer Horizontal Surface
Distance from Runway
4–15 km
Max Permitted Height
Increases 1 m per 20 m of distance, max 300 m
NOC Authority
AAI via NOCAS / CCZM
Peripheral Zone
Distance from Runway
15–20 km
Max Permitted Height
No height cap, NOC still required
NOC Authority
AAI
Surface Type
Distance from Runway
Max Permitted Height
NOC Authority
Approach / Funnel Surface
0–500 m (runway strip)
No construction
AAI
Inner Horizontal Surface
Up to 4 km from aerodrome
45 m
AAI via NOCAS
Outer Horizontal Surface
4–15 km
Increases 1 m per 20 m of distance, max 300 m
AAI via NOCAS / CCZM
Peripheral Zone
15–20 km
No height cap, NOC still required
AAI
Begumpet Airport compounds this problem. Commercial flights moved to RGIA in 2008, but the Ministry of Civil Aviation has confirmed it will not lift funnel restrictions around Begumpet because VIP, helicopter, and defence operations continue there. Colonies in Mahendra Hills, Shantiniketan, and Balamrai require an NOC for even a ground-floor structure on high-altitude plots. AAI's aerodrome safeguarding team issued notices to Anna Nagar residents in Secunderabad Cantonment as recently as September 2025, demanding height clearance documentation for existing buildings built over decades.
Before any land transaction within the HADA boundary, ask the seller for the survey number and run it through the AAI NOCAS portal at nocas2.aai.aero. If the Permissible Top Elevation on the CCZM is lower than what the broker is promising, that gap is your loss.
Corridors Around Shamshabad: Where the Funnel Lifts and Land Becomes Viable
Shamshabad (core HADA area)
Zone Classification
HADA mixed HRPZ / Work Centre / Institutional
Growth Driver
RGIA, GMR Aerocity (1,500 acres), NH-44
Funnel / Height Risk
High full HADA and CCZM rules apply
Tukkuguda
Zone Classification
HADA boundary fringe
Growth Driver
Telangana E-City (Fab City), ORR Exit 14
Funnel / Height Risk
Moderate verify CCZM grid before building
Thimmapur / Palamakula
Zone Classification
HADA transition zone
Growth Driver
Industrial corridor, logistics parks
Funnel / Height Risk
Moderate HADA limit applies, confirm boundary
Kothur (beyond HADA limits)
Zone Classification
Outside HADA, beyond funnel zone
Growth Driver
Industrial SEZ, Natco Pharma, Amazon warehouse, NH-44
Funnel / Height Risk
Low outside HADA, standard HMDA rules apply
Shadnagar
Zone Classification
Outside HADA
Growth Driver
Microsoft data centre, MMTS extension, ISRO NRSC
Funnel / Height Risk
Low check regional ring road alignment
Corridor / Locality
Zone Classification
Growth Driver
Funnel / Height Risk
Shamshabad (core HADA area)
HADA mixed HRPZ / Work Centre / Institutional
RGIA, GMR Aerocity (1,500 acres), NH-44
High full HADA and CCZM rules apply
Tukkuguda
HADA boundary fringe
Telangana E-City (Fab City), ORR Exit 14
Moderate verify CCZM grid before building
Thimmapur / Palamakula
HADA transition zone
Industrial corridor, logistics parks
Moderate HADA limit applies, confirm boundary
Kothur (beyond HADA limits)
Outside HADA, beyond funnel zone
Industrial SEZ, Natco Pharma, Amazon warehouse, NH-44
Low outside HADA, standard HMDA rules apply
Shadnagar
Outside HADA
Microsoft data centre, MMTS extension, ISRO NRSC
Low check regional ring road alignment
The most misread corridor is Kothur. Because it sits 16 km from RGIA and outside HADA limits, it avoids both the HADA development regulations and the strictest funnel height caps. That does not mean it is unrestricted. Standard HMDA zoning, TS-bPASS approvals, and GO 111 checks on the right side of NH-44 still apply. However, for buyers who want airport-adjacent appreciation without the funnel ceiling overhead, Kothur and Shadnagar are where the arithmetic works.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the airport funnel zone in Hyderabad?
The funnel zone is the approach and departure corridor aligned with RGIA's runways. Height limits inside it follow a 2% gradient rule: permitted height equals 2% of distance from the runway edge. It extends roughly 34.5 km east-west from the airport.
Do I need an NOC from AAI before buying land near Shamshabad?
You do not need an NOC to buy, but you need one before construction. Any structure within 20 km of RGIA's Aerodrome Reference Point requires a height clearance NOC from AAI filed through the NOCAS portal.
Which areas in Hyderabad fall under HADA master plan restrictions?
HADA covers 458 sq km across 70 revenue villages in Ranga Reddy District, all around RGIA Shamshabad. The full village list is in G.O.Ms. No. 287. Verify your survey number against HADA boundaries before transacting.
What is the maximum building height allowed near Rajiv Gandhi International Airport?
Inside the inner horizontal surface (within 4 km of the aerodrome), the cap is 45 m. In the approach funnel itself, height equals 2% of distance from the runway. Beyond 15 km, there is no fixed cap but an NOC is still mandatory.
Is Kothur outside the airport height restriction zone?
Yes. Kothur falls outside HADA limits and beyond the strictest funnel surface. Standard HMDA zoning applies. It is one of the few NH-44 corridor locations where air funnel zone building rules do not constrain vertical development.
How do I check if my plot falls under the air funnel zone?
Visit nocas2.aai.aero, enter your WGS-84 coordinates and site elevation. The CCZM for Hyderabad-Shamshabad will show your Permissible Top Elevation. Below 150 m, local bodies can clear permits directly without referring to AAI.
What is a CCZM and how does it affect building permission in Hyderabad?
The Colour Coded Zoning Map issued by AAI shows permissible height grids around RGIA. It delegates approval authority to GHMC or HADA for structures below 150 m, avoiding the need for a full NOCAS application in most standard residential plots.
Can I build a house in Shamshabad without an AAI NOC?
Only if your CCZM permissible top elevation covers your proposed structure and the local body approves it directly. For any structure above 15 m above ground level, an AAI height NOC via NOCAS is mandatory before construction starts.
Disclaimer
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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
Vector (GeoJSON) + Raster Tiles
Last Verified
2026
Status
Active