Srinagar: The directorate general of civil aviation has said the Jammu and Kashmir government can take initiatives if it wants to bring the airfare to a desired level.
In its reply to a notice shot by State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) following a petition pleading that as compared to other destinations, hike for travel to Kashmir is totally unfair and by all standards is aimed to scuttle the flow of tourists to the valley, the civil aviation department has put the ball in state government’s court.
“The initiative of state government on reduction of charges under their control like reduction of VAT on fuel uplifted from within the state, underwriting of seats, etc may bring the airfare to desired level. With regard to responsibilities of Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA), it is stated that this office has not been delegated powers to control airfare establishing mechanism of airlines,” Lalit Gupta, Joint Director General for director general of civil aviation, has said in his reply to SHRC notice.
The civil aviation department has said that the matter (notice) has been examined by the department. “Airlines are free to fix the reasonable tariff under the provision of Sub-Rule (1) of Rule 135, Aircraft Rules 1937 having regard to all relevant factors, including the cost of operation, characteristics of services, reasonable profit and generally prevailing tariff,” the reply of civil aviation reads.
It adds: “The airline pricing runs in multiple levels (buckets or RBDs) which is in line with the practice followed globally. The lower rate in the fare bucket is available for advance booking much earlier. As time lapses and date of journey approaches closer, the fare is higher side of fare bucket is made available as per the respective airlines policy. Airlines remain compliant to the regulatory provisions of Rule 135 as long as the fare charged by them does not exceed the fare established and displayed on their website.”
The civil aviation department has further replied that with a view to achieve better regulation of air transport services and taking into account the need for air transport services of different regions and remote areas within country, Central government has issued policy on regional and remote areas connectivity vide order number AV 1303/34/2012-DT dated March 4, 2014. “With regard to control on airfare , it is stated that state governments are important stake holders.” On April 17, the SHRC issued notices asking director civil aviation Safdarjung, Station Airport New Delhi and all in-charges of airline companies operating in Jammu and Kashmir sector including Indigo, Spice-jet, Air India, Go-Air, Jet Airways to file their respective reports on an unprecedented airfare hike. In his complainant filed by M. M. Shuja General Secretary Peoples Forum has projected grievances regarding hike in the airfare by airline companies operating in Jammu and Kashmir sector saying that the general public as well as travel associations have also highlighted the matter. “The contents of the complaint reveal that tourism in Kashmir valley has got adversely affected by this unbridled hike,” the order passed by the SHRC reads.