GURUGRAM: Drones, paragliders and every other kind of unmanned flying object are banned across Gurugram district for the whole of Wednesday, 7 October, under an order issued by District Magistrate Uttam Singh ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's programme at Leisure Valley.
The order, passed on Tuesday under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, carries a single exception: flying for official government purposes. Private operators, wedding videographers included, are grounded for the day.
Singh acted on a letter dated 5 October from the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Headquarters), which told the administration about the minister's scheduled visit and said flying objects might have to be banned for security reasons. Citing an emergent situation and shortage of time, the magistrate passed the order ex parte and addressed it to the public in general.
Enforcement rests with the Deputy Commissioners of Police, working under the Commissioner of Police. The district administration has shared the full text of the order on its official X handle, and it is also to be announced from the Public Relations Department's publicity van and pasted at municipal offices, tehsil and sub-divisional offices, police stations and other public places.
Anyone who flouts it can be prosecuted under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with any other law that applies. Section 223 deals with disobeying an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant. The basic penalty is simple imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to Rs 2,500, or both. If the violation puts life, health or safety at risk, the term can go up to a year and the fine to Rs 5,000.
What is happening at Leisure Valley
The event, the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha and Seva Jyoti Yatra, is being held in the parking area of Maharana Pratap Swarn Jayanti Udyan, the park most residents simply call Leisure Valley, in Sector 29. Shah is the chief guest and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini will preside, according to a Haryana government press release.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Nitin Nabin will address the gathering by video. Once the sabha ends, a mashaal yatra, or torch march, will be flagged off for all four Assembly constituencies in the district. The administration expects people from Faridabad, Palwal, Nuh, Rewari and Jhajjar to come in alongside Gurugram residents.
The programme is part of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, which the state government is running till 17 October to mark 25 years of Modi in public life and governance. District-level sabhas are being held across Haryana on the same day.
On Tuesday, K Makrand Pandurang, Commissioner and Secretary of the state's Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, went over the venue with district officers. He asked for stage management, security, public movement, parking and the cultural programme to be in place on time. Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh told officers to keep traffic and parking moving and to secure the entry and exit points for visitors from other districts.
For people heading to the venue, the administration had not published a list of entry gates or public parking lots by Wednesday morning, though the Deputy Commissioner's instructions on Tuesday covered entry, exit and parking. Drone operators with a job booked for the day will have to move it, as the order sets out no permit route for private flights.
Gurugram Traffic Police had not posted a separate diversion plan for the event on its official X account by 9.30 am on Wednesday. People driving past Sector 29 during the day should check that handle before setting out.
Section 163 has been in use in the district for other reasons this month too. Since 1 October, Section 163 curbs around Haryana Board exam centres have been in force, and they run till 24 October. Saini, who presides over Wednesday's event, had pressed district officials in July on cleanliness and planned development in Gurugram.
The drone ban lapses at the end of the day. From Thursday, operators are back under the central Drone Rules, 2021, which already require prior permission to fly in red and yellow zones marked on the government's airspace map.
