Maharashtra Govt plans 1% road safety cess on new cars

Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra Government is planning to introduce a new cess on new cars.

Transport department of Maharashtra Government has introduced a proposal to levy a 1% cess on new car registrations. Aim of this cess is to use the money in increasing road safety.

The cess, if implemented, will be paid by car buyers during the registration process.

The money thus collected will be used in buying CCTV cameras, improving signalling systems, buying speed guns, driver training, and emergency medical services, etc.

Cars that are currently being sold between Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh will get costlier by Rs 2500 to Rs 8000.

The Government is aiming to raise Rs 250 crore annually through this road safety cess.

In 2015, 13,212 people lost their lives in 63,805 road accidents. Last year, 12,803 people lost their lives in 61,627 accidents.