NEW DELHI — India’s sports ministry rejected the idea of extending sports-linked customs duty exemptions that would have made it cheaper to import equipment used for the construction of a Formula One race track.
India is eager to join the F1 grand prix circuit in 2011 on a course being built on the outskirts of New Delhi.
The Sports Ministry’s refusal to endorse the duty exemption application from the construction firm building the race track will not affect India’s chances of stage an F1 race, but might raise the cost of creating the infrastructure.
The approved events of the Sports Ministry qualify for several exemptions, primarily in custom levies. Ministry officials declined comment when contacted by the Associated Press.
The Times of India newspaper reported Tuesday that the Sports Ministry has refused to endorse the F1 race as a sports event, saying it would not have an impact on Indian sports “in terms of either participation, broad-basing or promotion of excellence.”
Samir Gaur, managing director of JPSK Sports, the company seeking to put India on the F1 map, could not be reached for comment by the AP. The Times quoted him as saying that the company would go ahead and complete construction of the race track.
Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya is a majority shareholder in the Force India F1 team.
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