Issues Of Airfare Hikes, Urban Housing, Groundwater Decline Raised

Nellore: Rajya Sabha MP Beda Mastan Rao Yadav on Monday sought clarity from the central government on issues such as increase in air ticket prices, progress in urban housing schemes and status of groundwater resources in the country.

Questioning the sharp increase in flight tickets, especially during peak seasons, the Member of Parliament drew attention to the negative impact of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices on passengers.

In a written response, minister of state for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol said ATF accounts for around 40-50 per cent of airline operating costs and state-level VAT also affects ticket prices.

He said that while airfares have been largely liberalised, the government has imposed temporary price caps in emergencies such as the Covid-19 pandemic, major religious events or recent flight disruptions.

He said that DGCA’s fare monitoring unit monitors fares on 78 routes, while passenger complaints are handled 24×7 through passenger assistance control room and Air Sewa portal.

On the issue of affordable housing, Yadav sought details regarding the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) and PMAY-U 2.0.

Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development Tokhan Sahu informed the home that PMAY-U 2.0, which was launched on September 1, 2024, aims to provide nearly one billion additional homes to those in need in the next five years.

Across the country, 122.28 lakh houses have been approved, 114.84 lakh were under construction and 97.02 lakh houses have been completed. More than six lakh houses have been completed in Andhra Pradesh in the last three years.

The minister acknowledged challenges such as land acquisition, rising construction costs and labor shortage.

The MP also raised the issue of groundwater depletion. In response, Raj Bhushan Choudhary, minister of state for Jal Shakti, said that after the 2025 monsoon, 72.55 per cent of wells in critical and over-exploited areas recorded improvement in water levels.

He highlighted the measures under Atal Bhujal Yojana covering 8,203 gram panchayats in seven states, as well as real-time monitoring using remote sensing and GIS, and recharge initiatives under Jal Shakti Abhiyan and Amrit Sarovar.