The World Bank on Wednesday assured the Maharashtra government that it would extend all possible help in implementing the ambitious 'Vision Mumbai' project, which entails an expenditure of over $50 billion.

The assurance came during a meeting between World Bank's country director for India, Isabel Guerrero and Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh at the latter's official residence in Mumbai.

Vision Mumbai project covers development of Mumbai Metropolitan Region, beyond the limits of city and suburbs.

Deshmukh pointed out that around 500 new vehicles were registered daily in the city, as a result of which there was traffic congestion, despite undertaking measures for maintaining smooth vehicular traffic.

The chief minister said the government was considering a proposal to introduce a 'congestion tax' to control heavy road traffic in the city. Maharashtra has also sought assistance from the bank for its 'Jalswarajya' water supply project, to be implemented in 3,161 villages, for which Rs 1,395 crore (Rs 13.95 billion) were needed, Deshmukh said.