Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has assured the Rajya Sabha that the government will examine the opposition demand for reducing the levy of the development fees collected at major airports of the country. Replying to a discussion on a Statutory Motion yesterday, Mr. Singh also assured that he will come back to the House in this regard.

The Minister's assurance came in the wake of the mover of the Motion Mr K N Balgopal of the CPIM, who pressed for division of votes. Earlier, the motion was negated by voice vote. Justifying the levy of development fee, Mr Singh said the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA), which is an independent quasi-judicial institution, is authorized to decide the quantum of fee for the embarking and disembarking passengers.