Pune: Alleged Fake ATC Clearances Used To Approve High-Rise Buildings, Serious Irregularities Flagged In PMC
Pune: Alleged Fake ATC Clearances Used To Approve High-Rise Buildings, Serious Irregularities Flagged In PMC
Pune, April 21, 2026: A major alleged irregularity has surfaced in the city’s construction sector, with claims that several high-rise buildings were approved using fake Air Traffic Control (ATC) clearances, raising serious concerns over aviation safety and national security.
According to a complaint submitted to the Pune Municipal Corporation, multiple construction projects across Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and PMRDA limits were granted height permissions based on forged or invalid ATC approvals. The issue has sparked fears of potential aviation hazards in the future if corrective action is not taken promptly.
Complainant Anant Gharat, Shiv Sena’s Pune city publicity head, stated that a letter dated November 17, 2020, from the ATC office at Lohegaon Airport indicated that certain permissions should be treated as cancelled. Further investigation through the Right to Information (RTI) Act revealed that permissions issued for projects in Bibwewadi (August 13) and Ambegaon (March 3, 2020) were not valid and were allegedly forged, with no approval from the Ministry of Defence.
Additional communication from the ATC headquarters in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, reportedly confirmed that at least one of the permissions related to Ambegaon was fake. These findings suggest that fraudulent approvals may have been used to facilitate large-scale construction activity.
The complaint also alleges that several projects in Bibwewadi, Sinhagad Road and Ambegaon areas received approvals under such questionable clearances. There is suspicion of possible collusion between developers, architects and officials from the building permissions department of the civic body.
Despite a written complaint submitted on April 6, 2026, to the Municipal Commissioner and the Chief Engineer (Building), no concrete action has been taken so far, raising questions about administrative accountability.
Gharat emphasized that ATC clearance is critical for aviation safety and warned that granting permissions based on fake documents could endanger lives and compromise national security. He pointed out the presence of sensitive defence establishments such as the National Defence Academy, ordnance factories and other military offices in and around Pune.
He has urged Pune MP and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol to intervene and order an immediate probe.
The complainant has demanded urgent actions including the formation of a high-level inquiry committee, criminal cases against those submitting fake ATC clearances, action under anti-corruption laws and the IPC, sealing or demolition of unauthorized constructions, and strict action against responsible officials.
Warning of protests, Gharat said that if immediate action is not taken, Shiv Sena will launch an aggressive agitation.
The alleged malpractice has raised serious concerns regarding governance, law enforcement and safety standards in Pune’s rapidly growing construction sector. All eyes are now on the authorities and their response to these claims.
