Question : AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT FEE

(a) the total amount of development fee collected from embarking domestic and international passengers at various airports of the country including Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Mumbai airports during the last three years and the current year, year and airport-wise;

(b) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that certain private airport developers are collecting huge amount as development fee from passengers;

(c) if so, the action taken by the Government in this regard;

(d) whether the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India has proposed reduction in airport charges at the Indira Gandhi International Airport; and

(e) if so, the details thereof along with its likely benefits and the time by which a final decision is likely to be taken in this regard?

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Dr Mahesh Sharma)

(a): Presently, Development Fee (DF) is being levied at two airports in the country namely, Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), New Delhi and Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), Mumbai. Year wise collection of DF at these airports is as under:

IGIA, Delhi: Rs. 415.88 crores (2011-12), Rs. 675.55 crores (2012-13), Rs. 361.94 crores (2013-14), Rs. 301.35 crores (2014-15 upto December, 2014).

CSIA, Mumbai: Rs. 29.16 crores (2011-12), Rs. 268 crores (2012-13), Rs. 348.96 crores (2013-14), Rs. 274.27 crores (2014-15 upto December, 2014).

(b): As per Section 22A of the AAI Act, 1994, Airports Authority of India (AAI) is levying and collecting Development Fee at IGIA, Delhi and CSIA, Mumbai through M/s Delhi International Airport Pvt. Ltd. (DIAL) and M/s Mumbai International Airport Pvt. Ltd. (MIAL) from each domestic and international embarking passenger @ Rs.100/- and Rs.600/- respectively.

(c): Govt. of India has established a regulatory body namely, Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) under an Act of Parliament namely, AERA Act, 2008, to determine tariff and other charges for the aeronautical services rendered at major airports in the country including Delhi and Mumbai airports.

(d) & (e): AERA has issued a consultation paper for determination of Aeronautical Tariffs in respect of IGIA, Delhi for the Second Control Period (01.04.2014-31.03.2019). The current document issued by AERA is only a consultation paper and the final outcome as regards aeronautical tariff for IGIA, Delhi will be known only after completion of tariff consultation process by AERA as per mandate given to it under AERA Act, 2008. No definite timeline as such has been fixed in this regard.