Air safety may soon come at a price of 12

New Delhi: Air travellers may have to pay a safety fee of Rs 12 per head to fly safely within and from India under the watchful eye of an effective aviation regulatory agency that would replace the rusty Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in not so distant future. India had asked the Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to finalise the blueprint of an autonomous civil aviation authority (CAA) that is capable of maintaining a hawk’s eye for air safety here.
On Wednesday, ICAO presented its study for an “empowered, autonomous and adequately funded” Indian CAA to the aviation ministry. For financial autonomy, the global body has recommended a “departure levy” of Rs 12 on all passengers.
This fee has been suggested along with a 20% hike in current licensing, certification and other fees to meet the revenue requirements of the “not-for-profit” Indian CAA that would be under the ‘supervision’ of the aviation ministry. All capital expenditure has been proposed to be financed by the central government, along with the setting of a CAA India Fund.
05/08/10 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Categories: Safety Aug 2010