DGCA, States to Step Up Oversight of 400 Uncontrolled Airstrips After Ajit Pawar Incident

The Civil Aviation Ministry has launched a nationwide audit of nearly 400 uncontrolled airstrips to introduce uniform operating standards and a joint oversight mechanism involving the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and state governments, officials said.

The review will focus on gaps in basic infrastructure, communication facilities, firefighting readiness, and coordination with district and local authorities. Most of these airstrips are owned by state governments and operate outside the DGCA’s routine surveillance framework, resulting in minimal regulatory supervision, according to a Hindustan Times report.

The exercise follows the January 28 aircraft crash at Baramati, which renewed scrutiny of safety conditions at non-ATC airfields and triggered calls for stronger oversight.

DGCA teams have begun inspections of Category A airports—uncontrolled airstrips that function without air traffic control services and are managed by state authorities, private operators, or flying training organisations. India has around 400 such facilities, commonly used by charter services, political travel, and flight schools, but many lack standard procedures for runway maintenance, emergency response, and aircraft movement coordination.

A senior official told HT that existing operating guidelines for these airstrips do not fall under the DGCA’s jurisdiction, necessitating a new framework to be developed jointly with states. The objective is to ensure greater visibility into operational readiness and safety compliance. Another official said inspection teams include officers from the flight safety, airworthiness, and operations directorates.

Categories of airports in India

According to DGCA officials, Indian airports are classified into four categories. Category A airports operate without ATC services. Category B airports offer limited control through partial ATC or AFIS facilities, such as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Jalgaon. Category C airports function under procedural ATC, where aircraft separation is maintained without radar, as at Pune. Category D airports are fully controlled, radar-equipped airports, including Mumbai and Delhi.

Among operational but uncontrolled airstrips are Baramati, Karad and Chandrapur in Maharashtra; Ujjain and Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh; Bhagalpur and Begusarai in Bihar; Alwar in Rajasthan; Sultanpur and Saifai in Uttar Pradesh; and Hassan in Karnataka.

Aviation experts say improving safety infrastructure at such airstrips would require limited investment. Mark Martin, founder of aviation advisory firm Martin Consultancy, said even remote facilities should have essentials such as windsocks, basic weather monitoring systems, CCTV coverage, and regular inspections.

He added that monthly safety audits by state authorities and daily online publication of weather data could significantly strengthen oversight at non-ATC airfields, where pilots largely depend on self-coordination. According to Martin, these measures could be implemented at a cost of less than ₹2 lakh per airstrip.