Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Jayant Malaiyya Thursday presented the yearly state budget for the fiscal year 2018-19 in the legislative assembly.  Finance minister Jayant Malaiya said that the budget will mainly focus on agriculture, health, and education and employment sectors.

A provision of Rs. 350 crores has been made under the compromise scheme for defaulter farmers to repay short-term debt. The last date for repaying the loans to farmers has been increased from March 28 to 27th April. 532 road construction works are ongoing. Construction of 5987-kilometer highway has been approved. Principal approval has been given for the construction of 6-lane expressway between Indore-Bhopal. Work will be started to set up a metro line in Indore and Bhopal. A smart city has been planned in 7 cities of Madhya Pradesh. A provision of Rs. 700 crores has been made for Smart City. A provision of Rs. 800 crores for the development of industries at the same time, a provision of Rs. 10,000 crores has been made for road construction.

The budget session began on Monday with Governor Anandiben Patel’s address. Patel, in her address, stated that the state government has reduced the value-added tax (VAT) on diesel from 27 per cent to 22 per and that on petrol from 31 per cent to 28 per cent.