Heavy user charges at Delhi airport draw criticism
19 May 2012 8:30 AM GMT
The imposition of the new User Development Fee (UDF) on passengers at Delhi airport came under attack in the Rajya Sabha on Friday with members saying it was high, especially questioning the levy for incoming passengers.
From 15 May, passengers departing or arriving at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here are shelling out more money with the introduction of UDF brought through an executive order last year amid criticism that it was high.
Raising the issue through a statutory motion, K N Balagopal (CPI-M) sought modifications in the Airports Authority of India (Major Airports) Development Fees Rules.
It was for the first time that incoming passengers are being asked to pay UDF.
He demanded that money already collected to the tune of Rs 1,481 crore by the airport management, which is being run in a PPP model, should be deposited in a separate account and utilised for improving facilities of airports run by Airports Authority of India. The member also sought a thorough audit of such funds by the CAG.
Members from several parties opposed the levying of user charges from both embarking and disembarking passengers at the Delhi airport and said these charges were the highest here in comparison to other airports in the world.
Balagopal said the particular rule is 'basically illegal' and 'ultra vires of the Constitution' and that private operators are 'siphoning off' public money in the name of cost over-run, which needs to be audited.
Najma Heptulla (BJP) said as government slept for years in formulating the rules, private operators kept charging user fee from passengers. She said levying user charges on both the embarking and disembarking passengers was unacceptable. Praveen Rashtrapal (Cong) said AAI has the right to collect development fee, but the charges should be reasonable.
WHAT IT COSTS
Departing international passengers: Rs 1,068 | Incoming passengers: upto Rs 881.10
Domestic departing passengers: Rs 462.80 for travel over 500 km | Incoming passengers: Rs 391.60
Domestic departing passengers: Rs 231.40 for travel upto 500 km | Incoming passengers: Rs 195.80
From 15 May, passengers departing or arriving at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here are shelling out more money with the introduction of UDF brought through an executive order last year amid criticism that it was high.
Raising the issue through a statutory motion, K N Balagopal (CPI-M) sought modifications in the Airports Authority of India (Major Airports) Development Fees Rules.
It was for the first time that incoming passengers are being asked to pay UDF.
He demanded that money already collected to the tune of Rs 1,481 crore by the airport management, which is being run in a PPP model, should be deposited in a separate account and utilised for improving facilities of airports run by Airports Authority of India. The member also sought a thorough audit of such funds by the CAG.
Members from several parties opposed the levying of user charges from both embarking and disembarking passengers at the Delhi airport and said these charges were the highest here in comparison to other airports in the world.
Balagopal said the particular rule is 'basically illegal' and 'ultra vires of the Constitution' and that private operators are 'siphoning off' public money in the name of cost over-run, which needs to be audited.
Najma Heptulla (BJP) said as government slept for years in formulating the rules, private operators kept charging user fee from passengers. She said levying user charges on both the embarking and disembarking passengers was unacceptable. Praveen Rashtrapal (Cong) said AAI has the right to collect development fee, but the charges should be reasonable.
WHAT IT COSTS
Departing international passengers: Rs 1,068 | Incoming passengers: upto Rs 881.10
Domestic departing passengers: Rs 462.80 for travel over 500 km | Incoming passengers: Rs 391.60
Domestic departing passengers: Rs 231.40 for travel upto 500 km | Incoming passengers: Rs 195.80
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