BOMBAY, 22 March 2006 — The Democratic Front government in Maharashtra presented in the state legislature the budget for 2006-2007 yesterday. Finance Minister Jayant Patil presented a surplus budget of 8,479.04 millions rupees. Last year, the surplus was 40.16 million rupees. The highlights of the budget was the setting up of border check post at all state borders, airports and seaports for monitoring goods traffic, exemption limit for salary of 2,000 rupees per month has been hiked to 2,500 rupees for levying of profession tax. Patil announced tax relief on purchase of flats or plots in central housing schemes up to 250,000 rupees. However, The minister announced hike in excise duties on Indian and foreign liquor and in entertainment duty on cable linked-television by 50 percent. Taxes on purchase of vehicles have also been increased from the existing 4 percent to 7 percent.
