The Maharashtra government proposes to introduce congestion charge on private cars in the metropolis, abolish octroi in all 15 'D' class municipal corporations, reduce sales tax on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) outside Mumbai and Pune from 25 per cent to 4 per cent and convert into four-lanes four-laning of the national and the state highways.

State Finance Minister Jayant Patil, presenting his 10th consecutive budget in the assembly for 2008-2009 on Wednesday, estimated a surplus of Rs 4608.96 crore at the close of the financial year.

As a direct measure to discourage use of private cars, the government is planning to introduce congestion charge where sufficient public transport capacity is created, Patil said.

He, however, did not specify when and how much charge will be levied during his budget speech. Infrastructure development was the theme of the budget. Patil said the Varsova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro corridor would be completed by June 2010.

To improve suburban local trains, 156 new trains would arrive in next 18 months to reduce peak time congestion.
The government is also planning adding more airports in the state at Shirdi, Solapur, Amravati, Jalgaon, Nanded and Latur.

The budget presentation was interrupted by the Opposition members who demanded total loan waiver for distressed farmers of Vidarbha and Marathwada, who have been deprived of the Central loan waiver due to two-hectare land holding limit.