BJP MLA urges PM Modi to review proposed passenger charges at Noida Airport

BJPs Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking reconsideration of the proposed User Development Fee and other passenger charges at the recently-inaugurated Noida International Airport, expressing concern that higher charges could make air travel from here costlier than from Delhi airport.

BJP's Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking reconsideration of the proposed User Development Fee and other passenger charges at the recently-inaugurated Noida International Airport, expressing concern that higher charges could make air travel from here costlier than from Delhi airport. In his letter to the prime minister dated May 8, Singh said the airport was envisioned as an affordable and accessible alternative for passengers from western Uttar Pradesh, and parts of the national capital region. ''I wish to respectfully bring to your attention the serious concerns of the local public and prospective passengers regarding the proposed User Development Fee (UDF) and other passenger charges at Noida International Airport,'' the MLA said in the letter. He said the airport is among the country's most ambitious infrastructure projects and carries significant expectations in terms of economic growth, employment generation and regional connectivity. However, the proposed fee structure during the initial phase of operations appeared contrary to public interest, he said. Referring to IndiGo's recently announced flight schedule from the airport beginning June 15, Singh said preliminary ticket booking data and media reports showed fares from Lucknow to Jewar airport at around Rs 5,072, while flights to Delhi airport were available in the range of Rs 3,600 to Rs 4,300. ''If, during the very initial phase itself, airfares become higher than those for Delhi Airport, it would impose an unnecessary financial burden upon passengers and adversely impact the airport's competitiveness,'' he said. The MLA also pointed out that the airport currently lacks fully developed metro connectivity, rapid rail systems and other multimodal transport infrastructure, and many passengers from NCR areas may incur additional travel time and expenses to reach the airport. ''In such circumstances, higher passenger charges and airfare compared to Delhi Airport do not appear justified,'' he said. Singh further said taxes on petroleum products in Uttar Pradesh are already lower than those in Delhi and imposing additional airport-related charges on passengers appeared unreasonable. Citing concerns raised by aviation experts and airline stakeholders, the MLA said excessive UDF and airport charges could lead to increases in ticket prices, affecting passenger traffic, airline operations and the long-term viability of the airport. He urged the prime minister to undertake a comprehensive review of the proposed UDF and other passenger charges and rationalise them appropriately. Singh also requested that passenger charges at Noida International Airport are kept comparable to or lower than those applicable at Delhi airport during initial operational years to ensure that the facility remains affordable and accessible to common citizens.