Govt likely to remove fare band, lift other restrictions on aviation sector: Hardeep Singh Puri

The government is likely to remove the fare band besides lifting other restrictions amid a possible increase in domestic air traffic in the coming summer season, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Thursday. He noted that domestic air traffic is increasing day by day and has now reached about 3 lakh passengers a day. 

Replying to queries at the meeting of his ministry's consultative committee, Puri explained the Members of Parliament about various steps taken by this ministry during the COVID-9 pandemic for the benefit of people as well as the aviation sector, said the statement.

"He informed about the fare bands introduced with floor price and ceiling price. He further said that in the summer schedule, as domestic traffic would increase more, the fare bands and some other restrictions are likely to be done away with," the statement added.

The minister also informed about the UDAN scheme giving details of the bidding process and the routes, the statement said. It added that the minister said four rounds of biddings have been done and more than 700 routes have been sanctioned.

As per the statement, over 300 routes have been operationalised under the scheme, the minister stated. 

Terming the recently-launched Darbhanga airport in Bihar as one of the successful examples under the UDAN scheme, Puri further provided information about airports and flights in Bihar, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh as well to the members of the committee, it said.

The committee members made suggestions about airport privatisation, opening up of new airports, expansion of existing airports, and flying training organisations, among others, the statement said .(With PTI inputs)

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