Mayur Shah, Managing Director, Marathon Group on the interim budget 2019-20

“The interim budget, presented by finance minister, Shri Piyush Goyal provides fiscal stimulus of close one trillion rupees through direct cash benefits to small & marginal farmers and tax sops for the middle class. This is expected to boost consumption and a good step for the economy. The measures announced by the government for encouraging purchase and availing tax benefits while buying a second home is a positive step to minimize the risks associated with high levels of unsold residential inventory. We expect that measures such as no tax on rental income of up to Rs 2.4 lakh on second house, capital gain benefit under Sec 54EC doubled to Rs 2 crore and allowing it to be deployed in two houses, will give fillip to demand in the residential realty segment. The exemption from levy of tax on notional rent, on unsold inventories, from one year to two years, will be of immense relief to the real estate sector. Also the income tax exemptions to the middle class will boost home sales and support demand growth.” Mayur Shah, Managing Director