Raju-airports 2 last(BES44)

(REOPENS BOM21) (REOPENS BOM21) Raju said he has written to all Chief Ministers to lowerthe value-added tax on aviation turbine fuel to provide an"encouraging environment" for airlines. But only a few states including Andhra Pradesh havelowered just 1 per cent sales tax on ATF, the Minister said. He noted that almost 45 per cent of the operational costof an airline is fuel bill and local taxes are the biggestreason for this. Raju parried a question whether he is confident ofmeeting the 2019 deadline of commissioning the Navi MumbaiInternational Airport. PTI BEN HV RSYSMNJMF