In relief to building owners in Mahendra Hills, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) authorities has agreed to look into applications asking for relaxation on height restrictions to build extra floors.

A majority of the buildings in the area have noticed no change in the past five decades due to curbs on height and compulsory NoC from airport officials. Authorities of Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) have been pursuing the matter with AAI, Begumpet, for a while to enable additional floors on a par with regions in GHMC.

The AAI, Begumpet, told the media that property owners who want to construct additional floors have to apply to the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which is the appellate authority, SCB chief executive officer B Ajith Reddy told the media. Building owners in Mahendra Hills have to apply either as individuals or as a group or association for approval of additional floors in the affected areas. Recently, SCB civilian nominated member J Rama Krishna had raised the problem of additional floors and pointed out that a few colonies on the western side had come up with constructions sanctioned by the GHMC up to five floors.

Presently, according to the building bylaws of the Cantonment Board, plans for G+2 structures are being approved. Due to height limitations, the majority of the buildings are just meant for residential use in Mahendra Hills.

Height limitations in Mahendra Hills are the main problem for them. While properties in Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills in neighbouring GHMC coming under the funnel zone are getting approvals to construct five floors, we have been denied the same, K Pradeep, an NRI and resident of Ravi Colony told the media. The limitations have been the trigger for some property owners to seek a merger of SCB civil regions with GHMC.

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