Lok Sabha on Friday passed the Airports Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2003 paving the way for private investment in greenfield airports and restructuring of existing airports.
Replying to a debate, Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain said the passage of the Bill would help in improving the functioning of airports.
He said of the 124 airports in the country, only 68 were operational and 56 were non-operational.
The bill seeks to amend various provisions of the AAI Act to enable restructuring of airports and ensure an effective legal framework within which investors would feel safe and secure about their operational and managerial independence.
The Bill was passed by voice vote.
It proposes levying of development fees on passengers to be utilised for airport upgradation and expansion.
The minister said passage of the Bill would not mean that all airports would be privatised.