Question: Which ministry has declared “Srinagar International airport” as a “Major Airport” recently?
(a) Home Ministry
(b) Ministry of Civil Aviation
(c) Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
(d) None of the above
Ans: b
Recent Context
- The Ministry of Civil Aviation declared “Srinagar International airport” as a “Major Airport” on November 6, 2021.
- Related Facts
- The airport has been declared as a “major airport” under the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) Act, 2008.
- On October 23, 2021, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had inaugurated international flight operations at Srinagar airport.
- First direct international flight was inaugurated between Srinagar, Sharjah and United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- What does it means?
- Because of this decision, tariff for aeronautical services at the Srinagar Airport will be determined by Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA).
- AERA has been mandated to determine tariff for aeronautical services provided at major airports, under section 13 of the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008.
- Major airports
- Central government can designate an airport as a major airport as per AERA Act, if it is having an annual passenger traffic of at least 35 lakhs.
- Centre is empowered to designate an airport as major airport by a notification.
- Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA)
- Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) is a regulatory agency under Government of India to regulate tariff and other expenditure & fees for major airports.
- It is a statutory body constituted under the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act (AERA), 2008.
By Kameshwar Shukla
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