'Aviation requires stricter Watchdog'

Mumbai: Even as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Civil Aviation Ministry's strict action on exorbitant airfares has led to a reduction in prices, aviation experts are calling for a long-term solution to the problem.
They recommend the setting up of a stronger regulatory body, on the lines of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), for the aviation sector to tackle this and other problems plaguing the industry.
"TRAI has done exemplary work for the telecom sector and has managed to tread the fine line between keeping both consumer and companies' interest in mind.
The aviation sector requires a strong aviation regulatory body on those lines. The existing bodies are just not powerful enough to deal with the private airlines," said Sudhakar Reddy, president, Air Passengers Association of India.
Captain M Ranganathan, former Air India captain and a top aviation expert, believes the DGCA does have the power to tackle these problems but often lacks the will to do so. He has also taken strong exception to private airlines' repeated calls for the government to step back and to allow market forces to determine airfares.
11/12/10 Bipin Kumar Singh/MiD DAY

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Dec 2010