Hyderabad, Jan. 25 -- Small business owners in Hyderabad shared their expectations from the upcoming Union Budget, highlighting the mounting challenges they face due to rising taxes and increasing procurement costs.

Speaking to the media, seasonal goods vendors and operators stated that heavy GST and other indirect taxes on everyday products have severely impacted their ability to run their businesses and maintain affordable prices for customers.

The traders explained that frequent price hikes across essential commodities have made it difficult to purchase stock, shrinking profit margins and affecting daily sales. They urged the Central Government to consider reducing or waiving GST on basic food and dairy items such as milk, sugar, and...