Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday announced that the State Government has decided to reduce the VAT rates on air turbine fuel from 20 percent to just one percent.

The announcement was made by the Chief Minister after meeting Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia in New Delhi. Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala also attended the meeting through video conferencing.

The State Government’s decision to slash VAT on air turbine fuel came in the wake of a letter by Scindia to 22 states, asking them to slash tax on aeroplane fuel to give an impetus to air travel.

The Chief Minister informed that on the proposal made by the Central Government to reduce the VAT rates on air turbine fuel in Haryana, it has been decided to reduce the VAT rates on air turbine fuel from 20 percent to one percent.

After the meeting, the Chief Minister told the mediapersons that the State Government would soon identify the land and send a proposal to the Centre for setting up a heli-hub in Gurugram.

“As a result of the setting up of a heli-hub in Gurugram, the airport will also get support due to the facility of intercity and intracity helicopters,” he said.

During the meeting, discussions regarding reduction of VAT rates on air turbine fuel besides setting up of heli-hub in Gurugram, civil aviation university, drone school, and satellite center in the state were held. The development of Integrated Aviation Hub, Hisar, Airstrip Karnal, Airstrip Ambala and Pilot Training School, Bhiwani and Pilot Training School Narnaul and air services routes in Haryana were also discussed.

Khattar further said that the Integrated Aviation Hub, Hisar would be developed by the year 2023. Karnal and Ambala airstrips will also be developed, he said.

He informed that the Union Civil Aviation Minister has also been invited to inaugurate the pilot training school being established in Bhiwani.