BU students oppose govt helipad for tourism, ETEducation
Bhopal: Students, alumni and residents near Barkatullah University (BU) in Bhopal have opposed a proposed Madhya Pradesh govt tourism helicopter service and are demanding the removal of a helipad constructed on the campus playground, alleging that repeated takeoffs and landings would disrupt education and harm the environment.
The move stems from the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board‘s request to the university for space to launch the PM Shri Paryatan Helicopter Seva, a state initiative launched on Nov 20, 2025, to connect major religious, wildlife and tourist sites across the state by helicopter. The board had asked the university to provide space for this service on the BU campus, prompting strong resistance from the university community.
Alumni argue that helicopters, operating at noise levels of 110-120 decibels during take-off and landing, would shatter classroom peace, unsettle students, and damage the campus’s bird population.
“This isn’t progress; it’s a disaster for education,” said alumni representative Dharmendra Singh Gaur, warning of eardrum damage, exam disruptions and severe mental stress from repeated noise exposure.
Gaur said the helipad, built on the university’s playground, appears to violate a 2015 Madhya Pradesh govt directive (Letter No. 462/Mu.S./2015) and also breaches the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, which prescribe a daytime noise limit of 50 decibels and 40 decibels at night in silence zones around educational institutions, far below helicopter noise levels of around 80-100 decibels.
He added that the noise and pollution may also infringe on the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.
On condition of anonymity, a student said the helicopters could drive away nesting birds, reduce reproduction rates, and release pollutants like CO₂ and nitrogen oxides into the air. Nearby residents have also expressed fears of health risks from sustained noise and exhaust fumes.
Critics have described the project as a commercial intrusion on educational land, arguing that it erodes the very “mental peace” that universities are meant to provide.
While the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board said the final decision on the PM Shri helicopter service using the campus site has not yet been taken and the proposal is still under process, university officials have so far declined to comment on the matter and protests.
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