INDIA. In another attempt to spice up the airports privatisation (The Moodie Report, 26 September 2003) the Indian government is to increase the duty free allowance for returning Indians, reports the Times of India.
It also confirmed the major international airports will be corporatised as separate entities and profit centres. Smaller airports such as in the northeast region will be grouped together to form a single corporation.
Now Indians returning after staying for more than three days abroad in all destinations except Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, China and Pakistan by the land route are allowed to bring in duty free items to the value of INR12,000 (US$266). This is set to be raised to INR25,000 (US$552).
Those staying abroad for up to three days are entitled to INR6,000 (US$133) and this ceiling will be raised to INR12,500 (US$276).
The duty free entitlement for children under 12 will also be raised from the present limit of INR3,000 (US$66) for a stay abroad of more than three days and INR1,500 (US$33) for a stay abroad up to three days. A 10% duty cut is also on the cards for bringing in imported products in excess of what is permitted as duty free.
In related news, the separate private construction project for the new Bangalore airport, took a step forward last week when the final details of the concession contract were resolved. This new airport for the bio-tech hub, the silicon valley of India – promoted by the Siemens-Unique Zurich Airport-L&T consortium with Airports Authority of India, Karnataka State Investment and Industrial Development Corp – is now expected to open in 2007.
