A global study of 50 airports has flagged Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport as the world's most urban-encroached airport. Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport ranked 12th and other Indian cities on the list include Delhi, Bengaluru, and Surat.

The devastating June 12 Air India crash, which scattered wreckage just 250m from homes in Meghaninagar, exposed how lax zoning laws endanger lives. Experts say rapid, unregulated urban expansion has wiped out crucial safety buffers.

Mumbai Airport is bordered by high-rises and slums, including Dharavi, while Ahmedabad’s once-peripheral location is now surrounded by packed neighbourhoods. Aviation planners recommend a 20km low-development zone around airports, but enforcement is lax, especially in older hubs.

While new airports are on the horizon, urbanists warn that without proper integration and zoning, India risks repeating past mistakes. Most accidents happen during take-off or landing. Crowded surroundings make rescue harder and amplify damage, noted an aviation safety expert.

Despite plans for greenfield airports like Dholera near Ahmedabad, existing facilities are still being expanded, raising concerns that infrastructure upgrades are outpacing safety planning. With India aiming for 350 airports by 2047, experts stress the urgent need for metropolitan-level planning that puts air safety at the forefront.

With inputs from ET