Govt okays user fee at GMR-led Delhi airport

Delhi International Airport (DIAL) would soon become the country’s sole airport to levy an Airport Development Fee (ADF) for three years to cover running costs.

The government has allowed it to charge Rs 200 from domestic departing passengers and Rs 1,300 from international ones beginning March 1.

Though an airport levy over and above the ticket price is not new — Hyderabad and Bangalore airports have also been allowed such a fee — the ADF is different because it is for a limited period, whereas the levies for the other two airports are of a permanent nature.

On an average, 60% of all passengers going through the airport are domestic, while 40% are going abroad.

About 24 million passengers used the Delhi airport in 2007 and rough estimates for 2008 peg this figure at 26 million.

Back of the envelope calculations show the ADF would help DIAL bridge the Rs 1,800 crore funding gap currently hampering development of the country’s second busiest airport.

An official spokesperson clarified that the ADF has been allowed on a “purely ad hoc basis and for 36 months only”. It would be inclusive of all applicable taxes.