- Increased duty on substances harmful to health
- An airport development charge will be imposed
- Quota for taxi, pickup services are being improved
As part of the efforts to boost revenue and resolve the congestion in the world's most densely populated capital, the Maldives government has proposed a congestion charge in next year's budget.
Finance minister Ahmed Munawwar presenting the proposed budget to the parliament on Tuesday said the government had considered several measures to increase revenue.
In that regard, the government is lookig to hike import duty on substances harmful to health and introducing a congestion charge to decrease traffic in the capital Male. Modifying and improving the taxi permit rules and collecting an airport development charge have also been proposed.
Selling land for economic purposes will also be included.
"I urge the parliament to back these measures with the required legislation," Munawwar said.
The minister also explained that revenue would receive a further boost with the projected increase in tourism which in turn would improve GDP and the expected rise in productivity with the opening of over 10 new resorts next year.
Munawwar also stated that the government will see MVR 21.9 billion come in as revenue with almost 14.1 billion tax income and a 4.8 income unrelated to tax.
MVR 876 million is expected to come in as free aid, and an additional MVR2 billion will come in as part of the proposed plans.
