Shivani Pandey –
Published on August 05, 2021, at 11:09 AM
The Bill, which is to amend the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008, was moved on the floor of the house for passage and consideration by Civil Aviation Minster Jyotiraditya Scindia.
Rajya Sabha passed the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2021, after a brief discussion amid protest and sloganeering by the Opposition over various other issues.
As per the Bill, the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008 provides for the establishment of an Airports Economic Regulatory Authority in order to regulate tariff and other charges for the aeronautical services rendered at airports and to keep a check on performance standards of airports.
The Civil Aviation Minister while introducing the bill stated that, “The airports, where currently the traffic potential is low and loss making are not expected to attract reasonable competitive bids. Developing more number of airports through public-private partnership mode would expand air connectivity to relatively remote and far-flung areas. This approach would develop not only the high traffic volume profitable airports but also the low traffic volume non-profitable airports. Therefore, the Government has decided to club or pair airports having profitable and non-profitable airports which could be offered in public-private partnership mode as a package to the prospective bidders.”
The Bill proposed to amend Section 2(i) in order to extend its scope to determine the tariff for a group of airports also.
The Bill was passed in Lok Sabha on July 29, 2021, and in the Rajya Sabha on August 5, 2021, amid protests by the Opposition.
Click here to Download the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2021
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