Steep VAT cut for Kovai night halt flights: CM

Speaking to the media after declaring open the police museum here on Thursday, the Chief Minister said the VAT will be trimmed from the existing 20 per cent to one per cent.

“This would encourage more flights to depart from Coimbatore to various destinations and help improve connectivity to major cities across the country. Air connectivity will increase significantly as many flights will prefer to halt in Coimbatore at night and commence operations during the day to avail of the subsidised ATF,” he said.

Earlier, Palaniswami was given a rousing welcome by his party cadre from the airport to the museum.

Traffic was thrown out of gear in several parts of the city due to the CM’s visit.

At the police museum, developed at a cost of Rs 60 lakh, an Army tank used in the Kargil war against Pakistan, a submarine used by the Liberation of Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), weapons seized from slain forest brigand Veerappan and Malaiyoor Mambattiyan were on display. A ‘veeraval’ (sword) gifted by former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran to the Coimbatore police was also on display in the museum at the 150-year-old Hamilton Police Club. It also has a mobile fire engine, mortars from the Navy, besides pistols, revolvers and missiles.

An air-conditioned room with a capacity to seat 50 people for screening documentaries on the police and books on the police force have been also made available at the museum.

Former city Police Commissioner A Amalraj took up the restoration works of the abandoned building three years ago seeking to convert it into a museum. It will be open for students, youth and members of the public to help them understand the history of the police force. Across India, there are only three police museums — at Kollam in Kerala, Kolkata in West Bengal and in Haryana.

Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani, Deputy Speaker Pollachi V Jayaraman, State DGP Rajendran, besides MPs, MLAs and senior police officers took part in the inaugural function.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister refrained from replying to questions on BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa’s swearing in as Karnataka Chief Minister and the S Ve Shekher comments row.