State taxes on ATF should come down: Ajit Singh

The Minister said taxes on ATF in some states have risen too steeply,up to 30 per cent,and they should come down,so that air connectivity to small towns increases.

Let the reduction in tax start from Madhya Pradesh as the Chief Minister promised in his speech, Singh said,in a gesture to Shivraj Singh Chouhan,who was also present. Airlines should woo passengers from tier 2 and 3 cities by increasing the connectivity,he added.

The ministry would be spending Rs 67,000 crore for infrastructure development and low-cost airports in the 12th Five-Year Plan,Aviation Secretary Naseem Zaidi said.

On the trouble-ridden Kingfisher Airline,Singh said it had been directed to keep the schedules,ensure safety of passengers and maintain the employee strength. The company was following the rules he said,adding that as long as it follows rules,its licence would continue.