Parliamentary panel urges DGCA to conduct comprehensive aircraft safety audit amid rising concerns
New Delhi, July 9. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has called on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to undertake a comprehensive safety audit of all aircraft operating in India. The demand comes in the wake of the recent tragic crash of an Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London, which claimed 241 lives.
While the PAC, chaired by senior Congress leader KC Venugopal, refrained from discussing the specifics of the ongoing investigation into the crash, members raised broader concerns over the state of aviation safety in the country. Key questions were posed regarding the certification of airworthiness and the effectiveness of existing inspection protocols.
Every passenger wants to feel safe while flying, reports cited Nationalist Congress Party MP and former Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel as saying, echoing the committee’s concerns after the meeting.
Beyond safety, the panel also raised issues over the arbitrary surge in airfares, especially during high-demand periods like the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. Lawmakers criticised the lack of regulatory control over ticket pricing and urged stronger intervention.
When DGCA officials informed the committee that efforts were being made to develop a consensus-based mechanism with airlines to curb fare hikes, some members questioned whether passengers would continue to suffer in the absence of firm regulatory action. A BJP member emphasised that DGCA already has the authority to act against unfair pricing practices.
DGCA representatives assured the panel that guidelines would soon be introduced to address unreasonable fare surges.
The committee also highlighted inconsistencies in user fees and tariffs between Airports Authority of India (AAI)-run airports and privately operated ones. Members expressed dissatisfaction with the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA)’s justification of its pricing methods, calling for greater transparency and fairness in tariff structures.
