The levy and collection of development fees (DF) from airline passengers in Delhi and Mumbai by the private operators of these airports is illegal, the Supreme Court said today.
The court barred the Mumbai airport operator — Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) — from levying the fee with immediate effect, and until such time as the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA), India’s national regulator for aeronautical services tariff, prescribes the levy rates.
Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) can, however, continue to levy the fee — the regulator had proposed ad hoc rates last year.
Passengers departing from Delhi have been paying Rs 200 for domestic and Rs 1,300 for international travel as DF since March 1, 2009. In Mumbai, they have been paying Rs 100 and Rs 600 respectively since April 1, 2009. DIAL, promoted by GMR, has collected Rs 1,200 crore in DF so far; the GVK-led MIAL has collected Rs 1,300 crore.
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