Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has directed Airports Authority of India (AAI) to infuse more equity in Mumbai and Delhi Airport with a view to abolish Airport Development Fee, ADF by January 1st of next year. The move aims to make the air travel affordable and to ensure that the passengers are not subjected to any extra burden. Presently, 200 rupees is being charged from domestic passenger and 1300 rupees from international passenger at Delhi Airport. While, rate at Mumbai airport is 100 rupees for domestic passenger and 600 rupees for international passenger.

Mr. Singh has asked the AAI to contribute equity share of around 102 Crore rupees to match the financing gap of around 1175 Crore rupees to abolishing the ADF in case of Delhi Airport. While, in case of Mumbai airport AAI has been asked to infuse 288 Crore rupees to fill the financing gap of 4200 Crore rupees. Mr. Singh has asked the AAI to take on priority the equity infusion with the purpose of abolition of ADF. As per the directions of the Civil Aviation Minister, the proposal regarding equity infusion by AAI will be soon submitted to Airports Economic Regulatory Authority. AIR correspondent reports that earlier Mr. Singh had also asked not to levy ADF at Chennai and Kolkata Airpor