Govt mulls air travel cess

New Delhi: The government said it was “considering” levying a cess on Air travel to develop smaller airports across the country.
“The matter is under consideration of the government,” civil aviation minister Praful Patel said in a writtten reply to a question in Lok Sabha. He, however, did not specify the expected revenue from the cess and the time by which it was likely to be imposed or how it was planned to be utilised.
Replying to another question, Mr Patel said the government was also considering providing subsidy to airlines for operating flights on non-economical routes. He said an estimated Rs 352.10 crore would be invested for modernising and developing Kolkata airport, which include construction of an integrated cargo complex, linking corridor for ’circular railway’ from Dum Dum to Kolkata airport.
On the Chennai airport development, he said an estimated investment of Rs 119.48 crore would be made for construction of five night parking bays, administrative building, integrated cargo cokmplex amongst others.
12/05/06 PTI/Financial Express

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