Agartala, Nov 18 (UNI) Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) and left frontal organisation of opposition CPI(M) urged the state government to reduce Value Added Tax (VAT) on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) to encourage the aviation companies to operate flights in Agartala sector.
TPCC president Birjit Sinha said, Tripura is charging 18 per cent VAT on ATF, which made operators unhappy. To bring more flights, West Bengal government exempted surcharge on ATF sold at Bagdogra airport for last three years and now most of the flights are going there. More than 25 fights are landing everyday at Bagdogra at present, which needs to be realized by Tripura government, he suggested.
“I am sure once ATF surcharge is brought down to tolerable limit compared to other destinations of northeast operators will get interest to run in Agartala sector. Always tax reduction of ATF doesn’t work unless there is potential but in case of Agartala it seems to work well because footfall is increasing everyday in Tripura,” Sinha observed.