New Delhi: The Parliament on Thursday passed the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 which replaces the 90-year-old Aircraft Act with an eye on improving the ease of doing business in the aviation sector. The Rajya Sabha passed the bill by a voice vote. It was earlier cleared by the Lok Sabha on August 9.
The BVV Bill will make up for the shortcomings of the Aircraft Act, 1934. The 90-year old law underwent 21 amendments over the years. In a debate on the bill in the Upper House of Parliament, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said the bill’s Hindi title was aimed at showcasing “India’s heritage and culture”. People will get used to the pronunciation eventually, he said.
The BVV Bill, which will become an Act after receiving the President’s Assent, will focus on enhanced safety, tighter regulatory oversight, and ensuring consumer protection. The bill aims to align the aviation sector with international standards. India’s ambitions to manufacture jets and invite investment in the aviation industry will also receive a boost from this Bill.
What aviation minister said on rising air fares
The aviation minister tackled questions related to skyrocketing air fares by stating that the government was committed to improving connectivity by air with its flagship UDAN scheme. “Through Udan scheme, we have kind of addressed the accessibility. We are now addressing the affordability factor,” he said.
The deregulated price regulatory mechanism was better for customers and airlines since it ensured competitive pricing, he said. The Centre is also focused on expanding airport infrastructure and the airport count. The deregulated pricing was in line with international standards, he added. Airlines are required to inform the DGCA before pricing any route. The civil aviation ministry met airlines in AUgust over the issue of pricing.
Naidu said that ticket prices were lower 2 days ahead of Diwali. Air fares were down 2-42 per cent in major sectors as well, he added. The new Bill removes a clause in a 2010 DGCA circular which allowed airlines to change air fares with just 24 hours” notice, said the minister.
Airlines will have to inform DGCA a month in advance about any fare changes going forward, he said. The minister also highlighted the high VAT charged by states which adds to the air fare paid by customers.
DigiYatra data safety
Civil aviation minister Naidu said DigiYatra data was purged as soon as travellers passed through the gate. DigiYatra seeks the traveller’s Aadhaar data and other details which restored on the passenger’s phone. Airports re notified about this when the programme updates the boarding-related information.
The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak passed by Parliament will replace the Aircraft Act of 1934 in a bod to modernise India’s aviation sector. Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu also shared how the government plans to regulate sky high air fares. Biz News Business News – Personal Finance News, Share Market News, BSE/NSE News, Stock Exchange News Today
