CONSUMERS may expect some more relief from high fuel prices soon. The empowered group of state finance ministers is likely to discuss a proposal of the Centre to reduce sales tax on petrol, diesel, cooking gas (LPG) and jet fuel on Monday. States may consider shielding consumers from the recent fuel price hike in the light of rising inflation. It is suggested that states should set a maximum sales tax limit on fuels that could be between 15-20%, a highly-placed source said.

coastal clearances: The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests issued the second draft of the Coastal Zone Management (CZM) notification, which allows green-field airports on coasts.

Congestion over Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad is set to come down drastically with the minimum separation between flights being reduced from August 1. In the wake of spiralling fuel prices, this decision would bring relief not just for passengers who often have to spend close to an hour hovering over the destination but also for airlines who otherwise burn precious fuel in the process.

The government has been deliberating on measures over oil prices through the last fortnight. Meanwhile, the companies' losses rose from Rs 16.34 a litre to Rs 21.43 on each litre of petrol, Rs 23.47 to Rs 31.58 on diesel, Rs 28.72 to Rs 35.98 on kerosene and Rs 305.90 to Rs 352.90 per 14.2-kg cylinder of cooking gas. Together, the three firms are losing Rs 725 crore daily on fuel sales, up from Rs 580 crore.

The Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) has suggested the Maharashtra government to extend the proposed metro line from Ghatkopar to Andheri to it's international terminal. MIAL, the private organisation managing the city's airport, has suggested the idea to the state government at a national facilitation meeting recently. "MIAL has asked for the extended metro link to both the terminals of the airport. The state government will discuss the matter and then take decision on it," Secretary (Special Projects) Sanjay Ubale said.

After bearing the scorching heat for almost a week, the city dwellers got an opportunity to soak themselves as moderate to heavy showers lashed the city this evening, bringing with it much needed relief and hope of an early monsoon. But, the weather office was quick to point out that the showers were not even the pre-monsoon ones and it was the formation of a low pressure trough over Gangetic West Bengal that was responsible for the heavy rain. The weatherman also said that a cyclonic development in Jharkhand propelled the rain gods.

The skies over Calcutta are becoming as congested, and probably just as unsafe, as its roads. Multiple flights on one route, skeletal infrastructure and an obsolete airspace management plan have combined to bring down the safety level of air travel to and from the city by several notches, experts say. It's not that the civil aviation ministry is not spending money on modernisation. As much as Rs 2,000 crore has been set aside for Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, but most of it is for passenger amenities on the ground rather than technology for safer skies.

Land meant everything to the Indian farmer, now it means big bucks. As large swathes of farmland turn into prime real estate, instant crorepatis are sprouting across the countryside. Sunday Times tracks the rich harvest Devanahalli New Bangalore airport a harbinger of fortunes Muniraju Shivaramegowda left his village and ran away to Bangalore when his poor father couldn't send him to college. He joined a private firm that provided security guards to companies. Five years on, Muniraju is a tour operator who owns 32 vehicles and employs as many drivers.

Mouparna Bandyopadhyay Development runs deep