The Maharashtra government has finalised plans to abolish octroi soon, chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said here on Friday.
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has finalised plans to abolish octroi soon, chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said here on Friday.
"We are committed to abolishing octroi. We are trying to find out some solution and alternate method to abolish octroi," he told industry leaders on the occasion of Indian Merchants' Chamber (IMC) Centenary celebrations here.
Asked on the time-frame for abolishing octroi, Deshmukh said, "no time-frame but it will be very soon abolished".
Industry leaders of the state have been clamouring for abolition of octroi for years now.
Representatives from various industry bodies including the Indian Merchants Chamber had met the Chief Minister with their demand for immediate abolition of Octroi.
Following discussions, Deshmukh has announced formation of a committee under the leadership of Principal Secretary of Urban Development to come up with a set of proposals for the phased removal of octroi and has assured industry bodies that affirmative action would be taken based on it.
Maharashtra is the only state in the country, which is yet to come up with a time bound plan for abolishing Octroi.
Removal of this levy is critical to the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime in the country by 2010, as proposed by Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram.
Desshmukh also assured industry leaders that the government was committed to scrapping the Urban Land Ceiling and Regulation Act (ULCRA).
"The final decision will be taken in the Winter session of the Assembly in Nagpur." Deskhmukh said.
Asked government's stand on Bajaj Auto's decision to close the Akurdi unit, Deshmukh said, "Bajaj should restart the Akurdi plant."
He said 110 special economic zones (SEZ) in the state have received approval, which will transform Maharashtra's economic scenario.
The Rs 2,25,000 crore face-lift plan for Mumbai will transform the city and make it a city of hope for the world.
Earlier, Deshmukh felicitated the past and present presidents of the Chamber and lauded the significant role played by it in shaping the India's economy.
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