MPs lashed out at DGCA and Air India
There was a lot of uproar on the issues of civil aviation in the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee (PAC) on Tuesday. The MPs put the officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, DGCA and Airlines in the dock regarding aviation security, skyrocketing air fare and poor condition of Air India. From the aircraft accident in Ahmedabad to the growing economic burden on the passengers, questions were shifted to every issue. The opposition also objected to the old presentation of DGCA, after which the authorities had to accept their mistake.
Sharp questions on Ahmedabad accident
In the meeting, the issue of Air India aircraft AI-171 incident on June 12 raised loudly. The MPs questioned the method of selection of the committee formed to investigate the accident. He asked whether the help of a foreign expert was taken in the investigation or was voluntarily involved in the investigation? Apart from this, MPs also sought answers on the deadline for analysis of the aircraft’s black box. MPs said that the cause of the accident should be detected as soon as possible, so that such incidents can be stopped in future.
Anger of MPs on air fare
MPs strongly objected to the arbitrary attitude of private airlines. He said that air fares are touching the sky, which is upset with the common passenger. The committee also expressed displeasure over the functioning of DGCA and said that it had failed to curb the airlines. In particular, the issue of charging up to 60 per cent from passengers in the name of user development fund (UDF) arose. The MPs questioned that when low fees are being charged from the airlines and internal service providers, then why is so much burden on the passengers?
Uproar over DGCA’s old presentation
According to information received from sources, in the PAC meeting, DGCA officials presented the old presentation. Seeing which the opposition was enraged. MPs called it an irresponsible attitude. Although the officials accepted their mistake, the anger of the MPs did not calm down. The opposition questioned the working style of DGCA and said that it has completely failed to implement aviation standards. The MPs demanded that the Civil Aviation Security Bureau (BCAS) should do regular audit, so that the safety standards are ensured.
Concern over Air India’s condition
The opposition also raised sharp questions about the poor condition of Air India. MPs said that even after the acquisition by the Tata group, Air India has not recovered from the deficit. Air India’s CEO Wilson Campbell admitted that the worse condition in which Tata had taken the company, it is yet to get out of it. The MPs raised questions on the accountability of the airlines, referring to the delays, technical faults and cancellations of flights in recent months.
The issue of giving 7 airports to an industrialist
Opposition MPs also raised the issue of contracting seven airports to a big industrialist. He said that this step reflects lack of transparency. The MPs sought more information in this matter and asked what was the basis of giving such a big contract?
Who attended the meeting?
Officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA), DGCA, Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA), Airport Authority (AAI), BCAS were present in this ruling meeting. Apart from this, Top officials of CEO Wilson Campbell, IndiGo and Akasa Air of Air India also joined.