The insightful advice provided by the Parliamentary Panel led by Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar on the cost-effective development of airports in the country is quite prudent, as it appears that every aspect has been considered before moving forward with the final draft. There is no doubt that the government is currently overspending on airport facelifts, resulting in overcrowding of necessary facilities and a significant increase in travel costs.
The viewpoint of the aforementioned Parliamentary Panel is to the point and considerate with regard to the primary requirement of the aviation sector, as what the majority of fliers across India want is comfortable and economical journeys, rather than making the airport the best of luxuries in the country competing with that of the world.
It is anyone's guess that extravagant spending will result in an increase in travel fares, which is not necessary. The government should always strike a balance between developing airports and providing reasonable facilities at affordable prices. The points raised by the aforementioned panel are significant and eye-openers, because those in charge must be guided by entities with sufficient acumen to distinguish between what is right and what is not.
It is worth noting that the Parliamentary Panel recommended that the government ensure airport infrastructure development is cost-effective and that the cost of travel remains affordable to the average citizen.
The government should not waste any time in following the recommendations of the panel led by Rajya Sabha MP Sujit Kumar, as this is a fruitful proposal that could help propel the aviation sector to new heights while also improving airport infrastructure without overburdening the sector.
The panel has advised the government to ensure that airport modernization, both those run by the AAI and those run privately, provides infrastructure in an efficient and cost-effective manner, utilising technology to reduce operational costs.
According to the panel, India is a “resource-constrained” country. The committee also noted that, despite the extraordinary growth in traffic, the majority of Indian carriers are losing money.
In this environment, cost-effective operations and long-term sustainability are critical for airlines to stay in business.
The Parliamentary Panel's viewpoint on the affordability and sustainability of civil aviation is thoughtful and solicitous, as most commuters use airports as transit points and only for travel, baggage check-in, baggage retrieval, and departure. This is the crux of the panel's recommendations, and the government should act without wasting resources on unnecessary extravaganza, pomp, and show, which appears to be one of the priorities of those in charge of the aviation industry right now.
