Lok Sabha Passes New Aviation Bill to Modernize Civil Aviation Sector

The Lok Sabha approved the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024, designed to modernize India's civil aviation sector by regulating aircraft design, maintenance, and operation. The bill aims to reduce ambiguities and boost sector growth, with significant improvements since 2014 despite pandemic challenges. Rising airfares and grounded aircraft were also discussed.

On Friday, the Lok Sabha passed the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024, through a voice vote following discussions and a response from Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu. The bill aims to regulate and control various aspects of aircraft design, manufacture, maintenance, possession, use, operation, sale, export, and import.

During his reply, Minister Naidu stated that the new aviation bill would pave the way for new areas of air travel, including seaplanes and helicopters. He noted the necessity of this bill due to multiple amendments to the 1934 Aircraft Act, which created ambiguities and contradictions, particularly affecting organizations like the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

Highlighting the sector's growth under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure, he pointed out that the number of airports has more than doubled from 74 in 2014 to 157, while passenger growth surged from 60 million to 153 million. Naidu also addressed concerns over rising airfares, attributing the increase to dynamic market factors and the shortage of planes. The government plans to establish an online mechanism for public and parliamentary grievances regarding airfare hikes.

(With inputs from agencies.)