The Civil Aviation Authority will have a Chairperson, Director-General and seven to nine members, Minister for Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has said.
Addressing a press conference, the Minister said the Ministry hoped to introduce the Bill for creation of the Authority in the second part of the Budget session of Parliament. The Authority will have a separate fund. It will be self-funding and the Authority will be given financial and operational freedom.
The Minister says the estimated cost of the Authority will be Rs 112 crore. Passengers may have to pay Rs 5 as security fee.
The Minister said: "We will not regulate fares in the domestic market." He added that a committee will be set up in the Ministry to monitor, not, regulate fares.
Ajit Singh said that the Centre has not received any proposal for setting up Air Kerala.
Regional airports
The Civil Aviation Secretary said that there has been some progress in the development of new airports in Kannur and Goa. In the case of Goa, 2,000 acres have been acquired. He added that a steering committee headed by the Chief Minister is expected to meet shortly to take the airport process forward.
He added that the Ministry has written to the Chief Secretary of Bihar on the new airport to come up at Bettiah.