The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which is a GMR-led association that operates Capital's Indira Gandhi International Airport, owes an amount of Rs 655 crores to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
"A review of the outstanding dues against various airports shows that an amount of Rs 735.33 crore is outstanding against 59 airports," CISF chief OP Singh wrote in a letter to civil aviation secretary RN Choubey.
Singh further said that during the last 12 months the total number of dues have increased from Rs. 542 crore to Rs. 735.
"Out of the total pending dues of Rs 735.33 crore, an amount of 655.40 crore relates to Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) alone," Singh said in his letter.
CISF, which handles the security of some of the country's most sensitive airports including Delhi's IGI, has requested the central government to intervene and get back its dues from the private operator.
Air travelers in India pay a Passenger Service Fee (PSF), which is part of the ticket cost every time they fly.
The PSF is classified into a Security Component which is collected to meet the expenditure on services provided by CISF, performing the security services at airports in line with the guidelines issued by Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.
"The escalating outstanding dues are a matter of grave concern," the CISF Director General has written in his letter.
He has further written that the dues attract adverse comments from statutory bodies including Comptroller and Auditor General, Parliamentary Standing Committee relating to Home Affairs.
"I would therefore request you to kindly use your good office and issue necessary instructions to the Airports Authority of India and the management of the private airports for liquidating the outstanding amounts as early as possible," the letter said.
A review of the outstanding dues against various airports shows that an amount of Rs. 735.33 crores is outstanding against 59 airports, which have increased from Rs. 542.57 in the past 12 months.
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