Equity infusion in cash-strapped airline Air India by the government has neither been adequate nor timely, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh admitted.

The government has infused Rs 12,200 crore into Air India over the past three years, but the national carrier there is still a shortfall of Rs 3,574 crore in equity infusion.

Mr. Ajit said that inadequacy of equity infusion by the government would cause additional interest burden to Air India because the carrier had to seek short-term working capital loans from the lenders.

Speaking on the topic, Mr. Ajit said, "Equity infusion by the government has neither been timely, nor adequate. Air India has had to seek short-term working capital loans from the banks. This would result in additional interest burden to the company."

The Minister blamed higher cost of jet fuel, high operational costs, economic slowdown and rupee depreciation for the heavy losses that the carrier incurred over the past few years.

In the financial year ended March 2013, Air India had a debt burden of Rs 85,865 crore. The carrier suffered a negative growth of 1.8 per cent as passenger count slipped from 162.30 million in 2011-12 to 159.40 million in 2012-13.