PLANNING to buy a car? The government has just made it costlier. State transport minister, Diwakar Raote on Wednesday tabled a bill in the Assembly for levying an additional cess on the tax collected from newly registered vehicles in Maharashtra.

An additional tax or cess not exceeding 10 per cent of the tax levied on newly registered vehicles will be collected under the provisions of the bill. The bill is for making suitable amendments in the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Tax Act.

The government has said that the aim of the bill was to create a separate road safety fund for curbing increasing number of road accidents. The additional cess will also be applicable when a vehicle registered in another state permanently migrates to Maharashtra.

The state has plans to use funds collected under the levy for various road safety activities, including establishment of a decided road safety cell for analysis of road accidents and taking corrective steps and setting up a road safety training centre.

The funds so collected can also be put to use for installation of CCTV cameras in transport offices, providing speed guns and breath-analysers to flying squads, road infrastructural improvements, construction of road overbridges and underpasses, installation of signages, and public awareness drives. The Assembly is expected to take up discussion on the bill Thursday. After securing a passage in the Assembly, the bill would be put up for approval in the Legislative Council. The monsoon session of the legislature is scheduled to end on August 5.

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