In a significant move to enhance air safety, Joint Commissioner of Police Nisar Tamboli has issued a preventive order under Section 163 of the Indian Civil Protection Code, 2023, restricting the use of beam lights around Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport. The order, effective from October 29, 2024, to December 27, 2024, bans high-intensity beam lights directed at the sky within a 15-kilometer radius of the airport during specified hours.
The directive comes in response to concerns raised by pilots, who reported being temporarily blinded by bright beam lights during nighttime events in surrounding areas. These lights, aimed skyward, pose a risk to aircraft operations, particularly during crucial landing and take-off procedures. At night, runway and ATC tower lights play an essential role in navigation, and any interference could lead to potential safety hazards.
The order specifies that no individual or event organizer may use high-intensity beam lights between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM within the designated zone. Violators will be subject to penalties under Section 223 of the Indian Justice Code, 2023, along with additional legal consequences.