Bhubaneswar airport safety concerns raised by high Puja pandal

A nearly 60-foot-high Puja pandal erected near the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar has raised serious aviation safety concerns. The structure is located approximately 200 metres from the west dumbbell of the main runway and within the aircraft glide path.

Pilot Anil Dhir has formally notified the airport director, warning that the pandal sits in a highly vulnerable funnel zone. The proximity of the structure means landing aircraft may be at the same level as the pandal's height during final descent.

Beyond the physical height violation, concerns have been raised regarding the use of intrusive laser and strobe lights, which could cause temporary pilot blindness during critical landing phases. Additionally, the potential use of unauthorized drones by organizers for aerial footage poses a risk of mid-air collisions or engine ingestion. Dhir has urged authorities to instruct organizers to reduce the structure's height and refrain from using lasers and drones during the festival.