Rajya Sabha passes Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2021

The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was passed in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

New Delhi: The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was passed in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The Bill was passed through voice vote. Opposition MPs created ruckus during the consideration and passing of the Bill. The Bill was passed in Lok Sabha on July 28.

Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Minister of Civil Aviation while moving the Bill for passing said that the goal of the government is to let people who wear 'hawwai' chappal travel in 'hawwai jahas.' Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Scindia said airports are built in places like Darbangga where people never even dreamt of having an airport facility. In six years, Modi government has doubled the number of airports. He added that Airports Authority of India will build airports in small towns as well.

The 2008 Act is being amended with the Bill and the definition of "major airport" is tweaked. The amendment will insert a provision in the Act for tariff determination of a "group of airports."

The Airport Economic Regulatory Authority was established under the 2008 Act. The Authority determines tariffs and other charges for services for major airports in the country. An airport falls in the category of the major airport if the annual passenger traffic therein is a minimum of 35 lakh. The Amendment grants authority to Central Government to group airports and classify those as major airports.