Pune Urbanisation Spikes Construction NoC Requests Around Lohegaon Air Force Station

Construction proposals around Lohegaon Air Force Station in Pune have risen sharply as the city’s eastern suburbs continue to urbanise, with Indian Air Force data showing a steady increase in applications for No Objection Certificates (NoCs) tied to building activity near the strategically important airbase.

According to figures available with the IAF, the number of construction-related NoC applications climbed from 1,062 in 2020 to 1,401 in 2025, an increase of nearly 32% over five years. The rise reflects the pace of residential, commercial and infrastructure growth in and around Lohegaon, where expanding urban development is increasingly intersecting with aviation safety requirements.

Lohegaon Air Force Station occupies a particularly sensitive position because it shares airspace with civilian operations at Pune Airport while also functioning as an operational military airfield. As surrounding areas witness new housing projects, redevelopment works and other construction activity, a growing number of proposals are falling within regulated zones that require scrutiny by defence authorities before they can proceed.

The NoC process is designed primarily to ensure that planned structures do not violate prescribed height limits or obstacle limitation norms around the airfield. These restrictions are intended to prevent buildings and other physical obstructions from creating hazards for aircraft using the military-civilian airfield, especially during take-offs, landings and routine flying operations.

Officials said each proposal within the regulated area is examined in detail to assess whether the location and proposed height of a structure could affect flight operations. That review assumes even greater importance around an active airbase where military aircraft conduct regular operational flying.

Defence Public Relations Officer Ankush Chavan linked the increase in applications directly to Pune’s rapid outward growth, particularly in the Lohegaon belt. He said the expansion of redevelopment projects, residential construction and infrastructure activity has naturally led to a larger number of cases requiring defence clearance.

Chavan said that although urban growth around Pune is unavoidable, construction in the vicinity of the airfield must remain within established aviation safety parameters. He added that proposals are being assessed carefully so that neither flight safety nor the operational requirements of Lohegaon Air Force Station are compromised.

The trend also points to the mounting pressure created by Pune’s widening urban footprint. Areas that once saw relatively low-density development are now increasingly giving way to apartment complexes, commercial premises and other infrastructure projects. As that transformation gathers pace, the need for close coordination between civilian planning bodies and defence authorities is becoming more pronounced.

For developers and property owners, securing an NoC has become a critical stage in the approval chain for projects located within regulated areas around the airfield. Compliance with height restrictions and related safety conditions is necessary to ensure that construction activity does not interfere with aircraft operations.

Officials expect the demand for such clearances to remain high as development continues across Pune’s eastern periphery. That is likely to keep municipal authorities, planning agencies, developers and the Indian Air Force engaged in sustained coordination as the region expands.

The situation in Pune reflects a wider challenge faced by fast-growing cities where military installations remain within or near expanding urban zones. In Lohegaon’s case, the central task will continue to be balancing the city’s development needs with the safety and operational requirements of an active Air Force station that also shares airspace with civilian aviation.